Research and Exploration of Aerodynamic Effect of High-Speed Railway Sound Barrier in China

Aiming at the security and reliability of high-speed railway sound barrier, current research status, achievements and challenges are expounded from the perspective of aerodynamic effect. Considering practical applications of high-speed railway sound barrier in China, the influencing factors of train fluctuating force and the vibration properties of the sound barrier structure are investigated. By discussing the requirements and regular patterns related to aerodynamic effects in China's technical standards on railway sound barrier, suggestions on improving the technical standard system and prospects of further research are proposed. The results suggest that the train fluctuating force is determined by various factors including speed, train type, as well as the setting location of sound barrier of the high-speed train. The relationship between train fluctuating force and the square of train speed is basically linear. The aerodynamic effect of sound barrier is also related to the train aerodynamic parameters, such as the locomotive streamline and the section of carbody. The difference rate of aerodynamic load between various train types at the same speed can reach 45%. Motivated by the aerodynamic load, the steel column mainly vibrates in the transverse direction, showing typical characteristics of flexural members. The unit plate primarily reciprocates in the transverse direction, and the amplitude is significantly affected by the installation state. The evaluation of the dynamic performance of sound barrier should focus on low-frequency vibration of the structure. Future research focusing on the vibration characteristics of sound barrier structure and changes in service performance, the formation mechanism of aerodynamic load and dynamic analysis method of sound barrier, the evolution mechanism and rules of structural dynamic characteristics during service life, and the safety performance inspection and evaluation system of sound barrier can be further developed, thus obtaining efficient and fast detection technologies of high-speed railway sound barrier. © 2023 Chinese Academy of Railway Sciences. All rights reserved.