Integrated CFD and MBD methods for dynamic performance analysis of a high-speed train transitioning through varied windbreak corridor designs

With increasing train speeds, the wind environment along routes has become complex, variable, and extreme. Constructing windbreak facilities is an effective strategy to enhance train operational safety in windy zones. Various windbreak designs exhibit notable differences in improving train dynamic performance, and economic considerations are also crucial. Utilizing the non-constant compressible Reynolds time-averaged equation URANS (Unsteady Reynold-averaged Navier–Stokes) alongside the shear-stress transport (SST) k-ω turbulence model, this study simulates the non-constant aerodynamic characteristics of a 350 km/h high-speed train traversing through different forms of windbreak corridors in a 30 m/s wind zone. The train's dynamic response was captured using a combined CFD–MBD (Computational Fluid Dynamics and Multi-Body Dynamics) offline time-domain simulation, the accuracy of which was verified experimentally. Results indicate that vortices of various positions and shapes form in the flow field along the windbreak corridor depending on the size of the openings. Using the no-windbreak corridor (Case 1) and the fully enclosed corridor (Case 4) as control groups, it was observed that smaller openings lead to more stable airflow, enhancing peak damping and fluctuation effects, albeit with varying stages of aerodynamic load fluctuation. The 1/3-opening windbreak corridor (Case 3) effectively mitigated the sudden aerodynamic load changes at the wind zone transition of the 2/3-opening windbreak corridor (Case 2), with the primary fluctuation area in Case 3 being the wind section. Dynamic analyses revealed that Case 2 exhibited insufficient lateral aerodynamic performance, raising derailment concerns. In contrast, Case 3 ensured travel safety and comfort effectively, while Case 4 offered excessive protective capacity. This study's findings serve as a valuable reference for designing windbreak corridors and ensuring the safe operation of trains in windy regions.