Aerodynamic Dynamics of High-Speed Train Tunnel Systems

The aerodynamic behaviour of high-speed trains passing through tunnels is governed by complex interactions between moving vehicles and confined air volumes. As a train enters a tunnel, it generates a compression wave that propagates ahead, followed by a rarefaction wave upon exit, producing rapid pressure fluctuations known as transient pressures. These pressure waves give rise to a slipstream along the tunnel walls and portals, affecting passenger comfort and structural loading. The so-called piston effect drives bulk airflow through shafts and venting systems, influencing tunnel ventilation and thermal management. Micro-pressure waves emitted at tunnel portals can produce audible booms in the surrounding environment, prompting the design of resonators, perforated linings or segmented structures to mitigate noise. Numerical simulation, scale-model testing and reduced network models have been developed to predict peak pressures, waveform superposition and flow resistance, thereby informing design guidelines for tunnel lining strength, air-shaft placement and energy-efficient ventilation systems. Practical applications range from optimising tunnel geometry and lining segmentation to integrating passive acoustic treatments and natural cooling sources, all aimed at ensuring safe, comfortable and sustainable high-speed rail operation on a global scale.

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Aerodynamic Dynamics of High-Speed Train Tunnel Systems publication trend

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Technical terms

Transient pressure: Rapid change in air pressure within a tunnel caused by the passage of a train, characterised by compression and rarefaction waves.

Slipstream: The high-velocity airflow induced along the tunnel walls and portals by the moving train acting like a piston in a cylinder.

Piston effect: Bulk movement of air driven through tunnels and shafts by the advancing or receding train, used for ventilation and thermal control.

Micro-pressure wave: Short-duration pressure disturbance radiated at tunnel exits, often perceived as a sonic boom, requiring mitigation to reduce environmental noise.

References

1. Moving model analysis on the transient pressure and slipstream caused by a metro train passing through a tunnel. PLOS ONE (2019).
2. Numerical investigation on an array of Helmholtz resonators for the reduction of micro-pressure waves in modern and future high-speed rail tunnel systems. Journal of Sound and Vibration (2017).
3. Influences of High-Speed Train Speed on Tunnel Aerodynamic Pressures. Applied Sciences (2021).
4. Pressure radiation from a perforated duct exit region. Journal of Sound and Vibration (2015).
5. The Effective Use of the Piston Effect, Natural Cold Sources, and Energy Saving in Beijing Subways. Advances in Mechanical Engineering (2013).
6. Research on numerical simulation of transient pressure for high-speed train passing through the most unfavourable length tunnel. Transportation Safety and Environment (2022).
7. Aerodynamic Characteristics When Trains Pass Each Other in High-Speed Railway Shield Tunnel. Applied Sciences (2022).
8. Influence of Segmented Linings on the Micro‐Pressure Wave of Tunnels. Advances in Civil Engineering (2023).
9. Substantiation of Parameters of the Network Model of the Air Distribution Due the Piston Effect in the Extra-Long Tunnels. Applied Sciences (2023).