Characterization of train-induced aerodynamic loads on railway noise barriers

Background

Noise barriers need to be installed along high-speed railway lines to protect nearby inhabitants from the noise pollution caused by the running of high-speed trains. With increasing train speeds, the aerodynamic effects of running trains on noise barriers become stronger, which, in turn, affects the dynamic responses and the stress ranges in the event of fatigue of noise barriers. To meet the requirements of safety, durability, and sustainability, it is therefore important to determine the train-induced aerodynamic loads and analyse the dynamic behaviours of the noise barriers. Previous models and calculation methods, that were suitable at relatively low train speeds, need to be adapted to higher speeds and a greater number of load cycles. Current research on noise barriers in other countries is however not possible to directly transfer to Swedish conditions as Swedish trains have a different geometric design and run at different speeds.

Aim & Objectives

The aim of this project is to improve the structural design and fatigue assessment of railway noise barriers

The objectives are to analyse the aerodynamic loads acting on noise barriers to validate and potentially modify existing calculation models; to perform dynamic finite element analysis of noise barriers to suggest a dynamic magnification factor for design; and finally; to improve the basis for the fatigue assessment of noise barriers with regards to the number of load cycles and stress ranges

Facts

Financer: BBT (BBT-2019-022)

Timeline: 05-2022 to 05-2025

Principal Investigator: Gabriel Sas

Team members: Chao Wang, Jaime Gonzalez, Yongming Tu, Dongyun Liu

Dissemination

Journal paper:

1. Liu D, Wang C, Gonzalez-Libreros J, Tu Y, Elfgren L, Sas G. A review on aerodynamic load and dynamic behavior of railway noise barriers when high-speed trains pass. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics [Internet]. 2023;239. Available from: https://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-98162 External link.
2. Liu D, Wang C, Gonzalez-Libreros J, Guo T, Cao J, Tu Y, et al. A review of concrete properties under the combined effect of fatigue and corrosion from a material perspective. Construction and Building Materials [Internet]. Elsevier; 2023;369. Available from: https://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-95539 External link.
   
3. Liu D, Wang C, Gonzalez-Libreros J, Tu Y, Elfgren L, Sas G. Modified calculation model of train-induced aerodynamic pressure on vertical noise barriers considering the train geometry effect. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics [Internet]. 2024;249. Available from: https://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-101567 External link.
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Conference paper:

1. Liu D, Wang C, Gonzalez J, Enoksson O, Höjsten T, Tu Y, et al. Numerical simulation of train-induced aerodynamic pressure on railway noise barriers. In: XII International Conference on Structural Dynamics, Delft, Netherlands, July 2-5, 2023 [Internet]. 2023. Available from: https://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-101565 External link.
2. Liu D, Wang C, Gonzalez-Libreros J, Enoksson O, Hojsten T, Tu Y, et al. Numerical Analysis of High-Speed Train Induced Aerodynamic Load on Noise Barrier Considering Wind Effect. In: Building for the Future: Durable, Sustainable, Resilient - Proceedings of the fib Symposium 2023 - Volume 2 [Internet]. Springer; 2023. p. 332–41. Available from: https://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-99632 External link.
   
3. Liu D, Wang C, Gonzalez-Libreros J, Tu Y, Elfgren L, Sas G, et al. FEM-based dynamic analysis of noise barriers under train-induced aerodynamic load. In: Bridge Maintenance, Safety, Management and Sustainability [Internet]. CRC Press; 2024. p. 3817–24. Available from: https://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-108354 External link.

Thesis:

1. Liu D. Characterization of train-induced aerodynamic loads on high-speed railway vertical noise barriers [Internet] [Licentiate dissertation]. [Luleå]: Luleå tekniska universitet; 2023. (Licentiate thesis / Luleå University of Technology). Available from: https://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-101574 External link.