The influence of different inter-car fairing structures on the aerodynamic performance of high-speed trains under crosswind conditions.

This paper investigates the effects of capsule-type and folded-bellows-type inter-car fairings on the aerodynamic performance of high-speed trains under crosswind conditions. Using numerical simulation, an aerodynamic model of a high-speed train is established based on the three-dimensional, steady, compressible Navier-Stokes equations and the [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] turbulence model to examine the influence of the two fairing types on the lateral force, overturning moment, and surface pressure distribution of the train. The results show that, when operating at a speed of 400 km/h with a crosswind of 15 m/s, the overturning moment of the head car with the folded-bellows inter-car fairing is reduced by 20.1%, that of the middle car by 23.5%, and that of the tail car by 27.7%. Therefore, compared with the capsule-type inter-car fairing, the folded-bellows-type inter-car fairing can more effectively reduce the overturning moment of the entire train, lower the lateral force on the middle and tail cars, and thus enhance the stability and safety of the train.