Investigation on the fluid-solid coupling effect in high-speed train’s windshield structure

Abstract

The high-speed train’s windshield structure is vital to the boundary layer development and drag reduction design. Up to date, windshield structures are assumed as rigid body in most train aerodynamic numerical simulations. This research investigates the fluid-solid coupling effect of high-speed train’s windshield structure based on an 8-car formation model. The influence of speed level and windshield installation location on the flow field parameter and windshield deformation profile are systematically analysed. The results indicate that, with the development the boundary layer, the time-averaged pressure coefficient, lateral force coefficient and windshield’s displacement all gradually decrease from 1st windshield to 4th windshield along the stream direction. In the connecting region between the windshield and vestibule, a pair of negative pressure zone are formed and gradually intensify along the downstream direction, such that the time-averaged deformation, as well as the vibration amplitude of windshields experience a slight increase. According to the power spectral density analysis, the vibration frequency of all windshields’ displacement varies between 10.25 Hz and 12.5 Hz. Meanwhile, the pantograph structure will lead to the generation of vortex group, these vortices will lead to additional small low frequency peaks for windshields installed on the downstream direction of pantograph.