Effects of Curved Wind Barrier on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Train–Bridge System and Its Static Wind Load

Abstract

Wind barriers are important measures that guarantee the running safety of high-speed trains under crosswind conditions, however, they can change the aerodynamic coefficients of a train–bridge system and the distribution of the flow field around a train and bridge, and studies have often ignored the static wind load characteristics of wind barriers. In this paper, the effects of height and porosity on the curved and vertical fence-type wind barriers on the aerodynamic characteristics of a train–bridge system are investigated by using numerical simulation and wind tunnel test methods. The static wind loads of the two types of wind barriers are analyzed by comparing the drag coefficients and the surface wind pressure distributions. The results show that, compared with the vertical wind barrier, the curved wind barrier can reduce the drag force and moment of a train while reducing the impact of the aerodynamic forces on a bridge. The static wind load of the curved wind barrier is less than that of the vertical wind barrier, when a train is on the windward side of a bridge, the drag coefficient of the curved wind barrier is only about 35% of that of the vertical wind barrier.