Numerical study on crosswind loads of container trains in different length on plain

Aerodynamic loads of long formulation container trains running at a speed of 120 km/h on a plain under a crosswind of the 10 Beaufort scale with a 90° wind angle were studied numerically. The velocity profiles of the atmospheric boundary layer over a plain were used to simulate the working conditions of the trains to be studied. The train models of one locomotive hauling 2, 3, and 10 container cars respectively, and the periodic boundary models of trains formed of 1 and 3 container flat cars respectively were researched. The results indicate as follows: The lift of the container on the 1st car is weakened by the wake of the locomotive and the container on the 2nd car is subjected to the biggest lift; the yaw angles and side forces of the rear container cars are reduced in sequence by the wake of the front cars, and the side force acting on the container on the 1st car is the biggest; the roll moment of the container on the 2nd car is the biggest, and the roll moments of the containers on the front 3 cars are basically at the same level; upon reaching the utmost, the aerodynamic loads will decrease gradually with increasing of car number, and the aerodynamic load of the container on the last car will drop rapidly due to the wake around the last car. The periodic boundary models are used to simulate the aerodynamic loads of the middle segment of the long container train, the roll moments of which are 80%~84% of the utmost aerodynamic load of the whole train.