Train Aerodynamics

TRAIN Rig in Derby
CFD of Class 43 HST

Train Aerodynamics blog posts

Some railway and train related blog posts can also be found on the Wind Engineering and Dispersion page

Train Aerodynamics papers

The links given below are to the publishers’ web sites, where the abstract can be read and the publication downloaded with the necessary permissions. Alternatively the final pre-publication of many (but not all) of these can be found the Birmingham Electronic Paper Repository here.

C J Baker, A Quinn, M Sima, L Hoefener, R Licciardello, 2013, Full-scale measurement and analysis of train slipstreams and wakes: Part 1 Ensemble averages. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, 228, 5, 451-467, Part 2 Gust analysis, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit 228, 5, 468-480

C J Baker, 2013, A framework for the consideration of the effects of crosswinds on trains, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 123, 130–142

T Gilbert, C J Baker, A D Quinn, 2013, Aerodynamic pressures around high-speed trains: the transition from unconfined to enclosed spaces, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid 227, 6, 608-621

T Gilbert, C J Baker, A D Quinn, 2013, Gusts caused by high speed trains in confined spaces and tunnels, Journal of wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 121, 39–48 

 C J Baker, S J Jordan, T Gilbert, M Sterling, A Quinn, T Johnson, J Lane, 2014, Transient aerodynamic pressures and forces on trackside and overhead structures due to passing trains. Part 1 Model scale experiments”, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid 228 36 – 69, Part 2 Standards applications, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid, 22836 – 69

D Soper, C J Baker, M Sterling, 2014, Experimental investigation of the slipstream development around a container freight train using a moving model facility, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 135, 105–117 

F Dorigatti, M Sterling, C J Baker, A D Quinn, 2015, Crosswind effects on the stability of a model passenger train – a comparison of static and moving experiments, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 138, 36-51 

D Soper, M Gallagher, C Baker , Quinn A, 2017, A model-scale study to assess the influence of ground geometries on aerodynamic flow development around a train, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit  231, 8, 916-933  

D Soper, C Baker, A Jackson, D Milne, L Le Pen, G Watson, W Powrie, 2017, Full scale measurements of train underbody flows and track forces, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 169, 251-264 

D Soper, D Flynn, D, C Baker, A Jackson, H Hemida, 2017, A comparison of methods to simulate the aerodynamic flow beneath a high speed train, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit, 44

M Gallagher, J Morden, C Baker, D Soper, A Quinn, H Hemida, M Sterling (2018) Trains in crosswinds – comparison of full-scale on-train measurements, physical model tests and CFD calculations, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 175, 428-444 

C Baker, M Sterling (2018) The calculation of train stability in tornado winds, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 176, 158-165

P Iliadis, D Soper, C Baker, H Hemida (2018) Experimental investigation of the aerodynamics of a freight train passing through a tunnel using a moving model, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit

Y Noguchia, M Suzukia, C Baker, K Nakade (2019) Numerical and experimental study on the aerodynamic force coefficients of railway vehicles on an embankment in crosswind, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 184, 90-105

D Soper, C Baker, 2019, A full scale experimental investigation of passenger and freight train aerodynamics, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit  

D Soper, S Gillmeier, C Baker, T Morgan, L Vojnovic, (2019) “Aerodynamic forces on railway acoustic barriers”, Journal of Wind Engineering an Industrial Aerodynamics 19, 266-278

R.Heleno, P.A.Montenegro, H.Carvalho, D.Ribeiro, R.Calcada, C.J.Baker (2021) “Influence of the railway vehicle properties in the running safety against crosswinds”, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 104732

Glover A, Sturt R, May R, Baker, C, Hunt M (2021) “An automated digital method for the assessment of crosswind safety for the HS2 route”, Winner of HS2 Learning Legacy Technical Paper Prize, Institution of Civil Engineers, To be published by Institution of Civil Engineers

H Hemida, D Soper, M Entezami, A Bordbar, Z Liu, Z Guo, C Baker (2022) CLEAR: Air Quality on Trains – HVAC and Exhaust Interactions Study T1234, Full report, Railway Safety and Standards Board. Available from RSSB SPARK database

Train Aerodynamics PhD theses

From the University of Birmingham Thesis Repository

N Perez Solero (2012) Measurement and analysis of slipstreams for passenger trains

T Gilbert (2014) Aerodynamic effect of high speed trains in confined spaces

D Soper (2014) The aerodynamics of a container freight train

D. Flynn (2015) A numerical investigation of the effect of crosswinds on the slipstream of a model-scale freight train and associated effects

J. Morden (2017) A numerical investigation of the effects of crosswinds upon the aerodynamic characteristics of a high-speed passenger train and its slipstream

M Gallagher (2017) Experimental investigation of the aerodynamics of a class 43 high speed train

P. Illiadis (2020) Aerodynamics of a freight train passing through a tunnel (not yet in Thesis Repository)