AeroTRAIN

AEROTRAIN 

In the field of aerodynamics an EN standard has recently been developed which focuses on common definitions and descriptions of the aerodynamic phenomena and measurement procedures. Due to the application to all types of rail traffic it as yet has not converged to one method per phenomenon but allows variations that arise from national requirements.

AeroTRAIN is part of the TrioTRAIN cluster of projects. TrioTRAIN, is an acronym for Total Regulatory Acceptance for the Interoperable Network, dealing with key railway interoperability issues. The objective of these projects is to propose an innovative methodology that will ease rail vehicle certification process in Europe to become a faster, cheaper and better process for all involved stakeholders. The overall goal of the project AeroTRAIN is to promote interoperable rail traffic in Europe by reducing costs and time of certification and closing “open points” in the TSI’s. The overall goal will be achieved by the following high level objectives:

• Address HS & CR TSI’s that effectively work to harmonise European and national standards on aerodynamics to reduce costs and time of certification;

• Reduce costs and time of certification by replacing existing cross-wind and slipstream tests with new alternatives without reducing safety;

• Reduce costs of certification by introducing virtual testing as far as it can be validated for head pressure pulse loads and cross wind aerodynamic loads;

• Close “open points” in the HS and CR TSI’s. Derive limit values and where necessary new certification procedures.

On the basis of the requirements for the new CR TSI and revision of HS TSI, where it is seen that virtual certification could be introduced, it has been decided to focus the study on five main aspects of rolling stock aerodynamics that are subject to certification. Hence the Work Program of the project is organised around five technical Work Packages:

WP 1: Open Air Pressure Pulse;

WP 2: Aerodynamic Loads on Tracks;

WP 3: Crosswind;

WP 4: Train – Tunnel Interaction;

WP 5: Slip Stream Effects.

WP 6 is a quality assurance work package - transverse to the other ones - that aims at ensuring the acceptance of the results of the project by European and National Safety Authorities. 

The University of Birmingham has been involved in three of the Work Packages of AeroTRAIN

WP3 Measurements of the cross wind forces on a Class 390 model using the TRAIN Rig and a specially designed cross wind generator

WP4 Measurements of tunnel pressure transients for different train and entrance hood types using the TRAIN rig

WP5 This work package was led by the University and focussed on the measurement of slipstream effects. A fuller description of the work can be found here.