Abstract
Optimizing the performance and increasing the comfort of high-speed trains require the knowledge of aerodynamic effects of a train shape. One of the most critical problems is a compression wave caused by a train entering a tunnel. This noise mainly depends on the cross-sectional area distribution of a train nose. On the other hand, the aerodynamic drag, the stability for side wind, and the low-frequency vibration are attributed to tail shapes. In this study, we studied the effects of train tail shapes on the flow field experimentally. Two models having the same cross-sectional area distribution but with different tail shapes were tested in a low-speed wind tunnel. To analysis the flow field around the model, we used pressure sensitive paint and oil flow techniques. As a result, we could identify the effects of tail shapes for pressure drag and cross wind stability.
