Driving Stability Evaluation of the Ethiopian Inter-City Train Locomotive under Crosswind Conditions by Modifications of Body Shape

Abstract

The effect of the aerodynamic force acting on the vehicle by crosswind is one of the most critical problem for safety. Further development of the Ethiopian railway transport calls for the solution of existing problems among which aerodynamic effect is regarded most important. The modification design proved that the Ethiopian train needs aerodynamic effect improvement on the technical and economical performances of train leading vehicles. This study numerically evaluated the robustness of aerodynamic and dynamic driving stability effects on the Ethiopian inter-city train locomotive. The numerical tests have conducted under 12 m/s speed crosswind conditions at straight, and curved rail tracks independently. This case study has estimated and evaluated the comparison of driving stability in between the baseline and modified models at the maximum operational speed. This evaluation study proved that all the rotational moment values, which occur due to aerodynamic loads, are less than all resistance moment values, which do due to train payload reaction, on both models. Therefore, the existing and the modified models have been guaranteed to operate with in 160km/h at straight and 72km/h (20m/s) limit speed at curved rail track.