Numerical study of the turbulent flow around the reduced-scale model of an Inter-Regio

This paper describes the numerical investigations carried out by SNCF within the European TRANSAERO project in order to estimate the side wind effects on the German Inter-Regio train. A preliminary Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) study is undertaken with a simplified geometry, in order to define a methodology suitable for the CFD works. Then, a 3D train model submitted to a transverse meteorological wind is investigated on three reference cases: an open embankment, an embankment with a wind fence atop and an embankment with a noise barrier atop. Eventually, a parametric study concludes about the influence of the geometry and the porosity of wind barriers on the reduction of the aerodynamic rolling moment acting on the train.