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J.R. Bell, A. Buhr, L. Siegel, "An Optimized Wind-Tunnel Methodology for Realistic Aerodynamic Investigations of Freight-Trains", in J. Pombo, (Editor), "Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Railway Technology: Research, Development and Maintenance ", Civil-Comp Press, Edinburgh, UK, Online volume: CCC 15, Paper 5.5, 2026, doi:10.4203/ccc.15.5.5

Keywords: aerodynamics, freight, drag, energy efficiency, crosswinds, boundary layer.

Abstract

A wind-tunnel methodology has been developed to improve the accuracy when predicting aerodynamic forces -- important for operational efficiency and safety -- through more representative modelling of real-world conditions. Measurements taken rail-side in field experiments of the surface-pressure, derived global forces and moments, and the boundary layers around operational freight-trains were used to optimize and subsequently validate the wind-tunnel methodology. The resulting methodology employs boundary layer augmentation -- additional surface roughness using spires and Lego blocks -- as well as detailed under-body and wagon geometries to achieve similar coefficients of drag, average and fluctuating surface pressure magnitude and surface boundary layers as observed in the real-world.

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Front Page Browse CCC CCP CSETS CTR IJRT Other Authors Search Purchase Guide FAQ Contact us	Civil-Comp Conferences ISSN 2753-3239 CCC: 15 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RAILWAY TECHNOLOGY: RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE Edited by: J. Pombo Paper 5.5 An Optimized Wind-Tunnel Methodology for Realistic Aerodynamic Investigations of Freight-Trains J.R. Bell, A. Buhr and L. Siegel Institute of Aerodynamics and Flow Technology, German Aerospace Center e.V., Göttingen, Germany doi:10.4203/ccc.15.5.5 Full Bibliographic Reference for this paper J.R. Bell, A. Buhr, L. Siegel, "An Optimized Wind-Tunnel Methodology for Realistic Aerodynamic Investigations of Freight-Trains", in J. Pombo, (Editor), "Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Railway Technology: Research, Development and Maintenance ", Civil-Comp Press, Edinburgh, UK, Online volume: CCC 15, Paper 5.5, 2026, doi:10.4203/ccc.15.5.5 Keywords: aerodynamics, freight, drag, energy efficiency, crosswinds, boundary layer. Abstract A wind-tunnel methodology has been developed to improve the accuracy when predicting aerodynamic forces -- important for operational efficiency and safety -- through more representative modelling of real-world conditions. Measurements taken rail-side in field experiments of the surface-pressure, derived global forces and moments, and the boundary layers around operational freight-trains were used to optimize and subsequently validate the wind-tunnel methodology. The resulting methodology employs boundary layer augmentation -- additional surface roughness using spires and Lego blocks -- as well as detailed under-body and wagon geometries to achieve similar coefficients of drag, average and fluctuating surface pressure magnitude and surface boundary layers as observed in the real-world. download the full-text of this paper (PDF, 6630 Kb) go to the previous paper go to the next paper return to the table of contents return to the volume description
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