Daniela Heine

Experimental Study of the Pressure Rise due to Tunnel Entry of a High-Speed Train

Entering a tunnel a high-speed train generates a pressure wave, which propagates along the tunnel and is partly reflected at the opposite tunnel portal. This wave leads to some severe problems like loads on the installations inside of the tunnel, discomfort of the passengers or even micro-pressure waves at the end of the tunnel. The tunnel-simulation facility Gottingen (TSG) was built in order to analyse these pressure changes and to develop systems, which smooth the pressure increase and reduce the pressure-depending problems in train-tunnel entry. The TSG is a moving-model rig, which allows a very realistic investigation of train-tunnel interaction. The train used is an ICE3-model made of carbon fiber scaled 1:25. The train speed ranged from 30 up to 45 m/s. The results of the experiments done in the TSG show, that the pressure gradient can be reduced by about 45 % using an extended, vented tunnel portal.