Running Safety Assessment of a Train Traversing a Long-Span Bridge Under Sudden Changes in Wind Loads Owing to Damaged Wind Barriers

In the event of partial damage to the wind barriers installed on a bridge, the wind loads of a train will change abruptly as they enter and exit the damaged area, resulting in the deterioration of the train running safety. This study aimed to assess the running safety of a CRH2 high-speed train traversing a four-tower cable-stayed bridge with damaged wind barriers. Formulas were deduced for the static and dynamic wind loads on the bridge and train and their combined effect. The aerodynamic coefficients of the train and bridge were obtained through wind tunnel tests of a train-bridge sectional model, and a model of the wind-train-track-bridge coupled system was established using multi-body dynamics and the finite element method. The effects of the length of the damaged area and average wind speed on the train running safety were investigated based on the proposed model. The results reveal that the car body lateral displacements and accelerations reach their maximum amplitudes when the vehicles enter and leave the damaged area, respectively. The amplitude of the car body lateral displacement increases as the length of the damaged area increases, until it reaches 72 m. The wheel load reduction rates (WLRRs) and derailment coefficients (DCs) of the vehicles increase owing to the damage of the wind barriers; however, the percentage increases for each vehicle are considerably different. The train can safely traverse the damaged area of wind barriers at a designed speed of 180 km/h when the average wind speed is lower than 10 m/s. When the average wind speed reaches 20 m/s, the train can still safely cross the damaged area if the length of the damaged area is less than 12 m.

Automated summary

This study assesses the running safety of a high-speed train traversing a bridge with damaged wind barriers. Results show that vehicle lateral displacement and acceleration are greatest when entering and leaving the damaged area, with the displacement increasing with the length of the damaged area. Damage to the wind barriers leads to reductions in wheel load and an increase in derailment coefficients.