Study on the Effect of Bridge Windbreaks on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of High-Speed Trains Meeting under Crosswind

Under the influence of crosswind, when high-speed trains (HSTs) meet on a bridge, they produce complex vortexes, strong aerodynamic loads, and other aerodynamic effects. The purpose of this paper is to reveal the influences of crosswind and windbreaks on the vortexes generated by HSTs, the pressure distributions on the surfaces of the trains, and the aerodynamic load coefficients of the trains when they meet on a bridge, as well as the influence of the pressure waves generated by the trains on the windbreaks. The three-dimensional incompressible improved delayed detached eddy simulation (IDDES) method based on the SST k-ω turbulence model is used for numerical calculation purposes, and the overset grid method is used to realize the relative motions of the trains. The results show that the windbreaks can reduce the negative pressure (NP) imposed on the train surface and effectively improve the pressure distribution; crosswinds have a significant impact on the vortexes generated by trains, and the vortexes generated by the upstream train affect the stability of the downstream train; windbreaks can reduce the aerodynamic load applied when trains meet and thus improve the safety of the trains; and the head and tail waves generated by trains impose pressure on the windbreaks, which affects the reliability of the windbreaks installations. The simulation results can provide a preliminary reference for future research.