Full-scale freight train underbody aerodynamics with application to track spraying

In this article, measurements of full-scale freight train underbody aerodynamics relevant to top-of-rail spraying are presented. The velocity near the wheel was measured using hot wire anemometers mounted on the train. The pressure was measured using transducers mounted adjacent to the track. Velocity scaled linearly with locomotive speed and pressure scaled linearly with dynamic pressure, implying negligible Reynolds number effects. The mean velocity near the wheels was less than half of the locomotive speed when the vehicle moved at or greater than the ambient wind speed. The velocity upwind of the wheel was 30% greater than downwind of the wheel. These mean velocities are consistent with computational fluid dynamics simulations of the flow field in the vicinity of the wheel. Turbulence intensity levels were measured to be 0.08-0.16. The pressure at the track depends on the configuration of the leading car; the maximum pressure drop was 65% greater when the hopper car preceded the locomotive compared to when the locomotive preceded the hopper car.