The influence of reduced cross-section on pressure transients from high-speed trains intersecting in a tunnel

Abstract Alleviation of the pressure transients caused by high-speed trains intersecting in a tunnel with partially reduced cross-section is investigated by numerical simulation. The RNG k-e turbulence model and hybrid grid are adopted for the numerical simulation, which is validated by the moving model test. Two factors, the length of reduced section (L) and the train marshalling number, are considered to analyse the alleviation effect. The results show that, for reduction of the pressure transients induced by the intersection of three-car marshalling trains, the location of the change in cross-section is supposed to be near the location of the maximum value of the initial expansion wave (L → 240 ​m). In addition, for four-car marshalling trains intersecting in a tunnel of L ​= ​240 ​m, the excavation volume of the tunnel (tunnel volume) decreases by 14.4%, and the average pressure amplitude on the train surface decreases by 7.9%. Especially the pressure amplitude at the measurement point in the streamlined area of the tail car decreased by 28.6%. The reduced section tunnel has a good effect on decreasing the pressure transients around train body and the tunnel excavation volume (construction cost), which helps the tunnel design process.