Investigation of High-Speed Train Drag with Towing Tank Experiments and CFD

Abstract

In order to assess the accuracy of drag prediction methods for high-speed trains, experimental and numerical investigations were performed. Besides the drag coefficient, skin friction and pressure distributions on and near the model have been measured for a 1:22 model of the ICE/V. For the experiments, a moving model rig called DIWA (Drag measurement in water) was realised in a 120 m long towing tank to allow for a realistic simulation of the flow around the train, even in the underbelly region. Numerical investigations were performed using Partially-averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS) simulations based on the k-ω-SST turbulence model. Both experimental and numerical methods can be considered as a novelty in the field of train aerodynamics. The results are compared with data from full-scale tests. It is shown, that the moving model rig DIWA allows for the measurement of drag coefficients of trains with high accuracy. Furthermore, the data acquired using the PANS approach compares well with the experimental data.