Rapid and safe, high-speed trains rival with air transport for the title of most efficient long-distance means of transport. However, until a high-speed train is put in service, hundreds of aerodynamics tests are carried out as aerodynamics has a vital contribution to the passengers’ comfort, the stability of trains and will significantly reduce travel time. Composite materials are used for the aerodynamics of a train as they can be easily shaped and can reduce the noise generated by the high speed of a train.
Trains that run at very high-speeds has to be aerodynamic, a feature which plays a major part in the vehicle’s performance.
Important issues such as safety, the environmental effects of a running train and its impact on close surroundings, as well as the passengers’ perception on comfort are characteristics determined by aerodynamics. For example, the form of the front part of the train is significantly influenced by the circulation of the air especially in tunnels and side stability (depending on the wind). Tests consists in simulating winds by directing the air current. To obtain viable results for safety problems, such as the intersection of trains or the vehicle behaviour at lateral movements, new facilities are designed and then analysed through aerodynamics and aeroacoustics studies.
Aerodynamics becomes more and more critical with the increase of speed. As the air resistance rises geometrically with speed, the weight can be reduced by developing an optimal aerodynamics form. To that end, aerodynamics tests are very important in the construction of a high-speed train.
“Rolling stock standards will always be standards. However, specific programmes foe tests simulating wind are extremely important. The train is tested at speeds of 300 km/h. This is how the vehicles’ technical behaviour at different speeds is tested guaranteeing the reliability of the train, the functionality of all components and its aerodynamics tolerance. The optimisation of the train operation parameters in specific conditions are also considered, thus improving the passengers’ comfort”, declared François Lacôte, Senior Vice President of Technology, Alstom Transport.
While the noise generated by conventional trains is emitted by rolling, the noise generated by high-speed trains is mostly caused by its aerodynamics. Therefore, the front part of high-speed trains is made of composite materials as the aerodynamics is provided by the composite structures which are much easier to shape compared to metallic materials which are more difficult to shape to obtain an optimal design for the front part.
Moreover, aerodynamics details are important for the ventilation system which attracts the air from outside. Composite materials are the main materials which permit the flow of air as they can be easily shaped to reduce noise.
Manufacturers choose composite materials because they facilitate the design of the front part of high-speed trains. One of the challenges in building a high-speed train is building the front part of a train, both in terms of aerodynamics and in building the body case in harmony with the front part.
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