Author/Authors :
Gillani, S. A School of Mechanical Engineering - Vellore Institute of Technology, India , Panikulam, V. P School of Mechanical Engineering - Vellore Institute of Technology, India , Sadasivan, S School of Mechanical Engineering - Vellore Institute of Technology, India , Yaoping, Z Evacuated Tube Transport - Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
Abstract :
Aerodynamic aspects of train shapes suitable for Vacuum Tube Train System are investigated in this paper.
Three feasible geometries for the vacuum tube train system have been considered and modelled in three
dimensions and have been computationally studied using the commercial software Ansys Fluent.
Aerodynamic drag loads on these geometries have been calculated under different tube pressures and speeds
of the train, which provide insight on various operating parameters that need to be considered while designing
the vacuum tube train system. The present computational research shows that, the suitable vacuum pressure,
and different shapes of head and tail of the train have significantly effects the drag force of the vacuum train
in the tunnel. Overall, the elliptical train shape with a height to base ratio of 2:1 is more efficient for
aerodynamic drag reduction of the vacuum tube train at the vacuum tube pressure of 1013.25 Pa.
Keywords :
Navier stokes equations , Shock wave , Vacuum train , Aerodynamic drag , CFD
