Impact of different nose lengths on flow-field structure around a high-speed train

In this study, the time-averaged and instantaneous slipstream velocity, time-averaged pressure, wake flows, and aerodynamic force of a high-speed train (HST) with different nose lengths are compared and analyzed using an improved delayed detached-eddy simulation (IDDES) method. Four train models were selected, with nose lengths of 4, 7, 9, and 12 m. To verify the accuracy of the numerical simulation results, they were compared with wind tunnel test results. The comparison results show that the selection of the numerical simulation method is reasonable. The research results show that with increasing nose length, the peak values of the time-averaged slipstream velocity of the trackside position (3 m from the center of track and 0.2 m from the top of rail) and the platform position (3 m from the center of track and 0.2 m from the top of rail) decrease continuously, and show a trend of rapid reduction at first, and then a slow decrease. As the nose length increased from 4 to 12 m, the time-averaged slipstream velocity at the trackside position and platform position are decreased by 57% and 19.5%, respectively. At a height of 1.6 m from the top of the rail, ΔC_{P max} max (maximum pressure coefficient), pipeΔC_{P min}pipe (the absolute value of minimum pressure coefficient), and ΔC_P (pressure change coefficient) decrease with increasing nose length, which is similar to the peak value of time-averaged slipstream velocity, decreasing rapidly at first and then slowly. As the nose length increased from 4 to 12 m, decreases of ΔC_{P max}, pipeΔC_{P min}pipe, and ΔC_P by 26.5%, 58.5%, and 44.8% were shown, respectively. Different nose lengths also have a significant impact on wake flow.