Analysis of Aerodynamic Noise at Inter-coach Space of High Speed Trains

Abstract

A numerical analysis method for predicting aerodynamic noise at inter-coach space of high-speed trains, validated by wind-tunnel experiments for limited speed range, is proposed. The wind-tunnel testing measurements of the train aerodynamic sound pressure level for the new generation Korean high-speed train have suggested that the inter-coach space aerodynamic noise varies approximately to the 7.7th power of the train speed. The observed high sensitivity serves as a motivation for the present investigation on elucidating the characteristics of noise emission at inter-coach space. As train speed increases, the effect of turbulent flows and vortex shedding is amplified, with concomitant increase in the aerodynamic noise. The turbulent flow field analysis demonstrates that vortex formation indeed causes generation of aerodynamic sound. For validation, numerical simulation and wind tunnel measurements are performed under identical conditions. The results show close correlation between the numerically derived and measured values, and with some adjustment, the results are found to be in good agreement. Thus validated, the numerical analysis procedure is applied to predict the aerodynamic noise level at inter-coach space. As the train gains speed, numerical simulation predicts increase in the overall aerodynamic sound emission level accompanied by an upward shift in the main frequency components of the sound. A contour mapping of the aerodynamic sound for the region enclosing the inter-coach space is presented.