Numerical simulation of effect of nose shape on tunnel entry/exit wave induced by a high-speed train passing through a tunnel

The air flow around the high-speed train passing through a tunnel is three dimensional, compressible and unsteady in nature. This paper carried out the numerical simulation of it and evaluated the effect of nose shapes of high-speed trains on tunnel entry/exit waves radiated directly from tunnel entrance or exit. The elliptical, parabolic and conical nose shapes were analyzed. A commercial CFD code STAR-CD based on the finite volume method was used applying the SIMPLE algorithm and a moving grid technology. The comparison study shows that though the patterns of tunnel entry waves or exit waves induced by high-speed trains with above three nose shapes are similar, the amplitudes of them are different. The wave amplitude of elliptical shape is the highest, and that of conical shape is the lowest, which implies that with the nose shape be more streamlined and slender, it might be more likely to reduce the amplitudes of tunnel entry/exit waves.