scholarly journals Full-Scale Experimental Investigation of the Interaction between Trains and Tunnels

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (20) ◽  
pp. 7189
Author(s):  
Claudio Somaschini ◽  
Tommaso Argentini ◽  
Elia Brambilla ◽  
Daniele Rocchi ◽  
Paolo Schito ◽  
...  

This works focuses on a series of experimental tests carried out to investigate overpressures in tunnels due to train crossings. Although the above-mentioned topic is well known and also defined in European standards, in the literature full-scale data are lacking, which are useful to validate the numerical codes required in the certification process and are used in train structural dimensioning. In this respect, an extensive full-scale experimental campaign was planned for observing as many test conditions as possible, such as single passages of different trains, two train crossing, different tests speed, and different tunnel characteristics. In detail, the understanding of the pressure wave generation and transmission is deeply enhanced by studying the pressure evolution both on board and at trackside, considering both single train passages or two trains crossings and having the possibility to compare aerodynamic loads on sealed and unsealed trains. Furthermore, the position of sensors, the speed of the train, and the initial conditions within the tunnel have been proven to be fundamental parameters for properly estimating the pressure loads on trains.

Author(s):  
F. Martelli ◽  
G. Riccio ◽  
G. Benelli ◽  
D. Cecchini ◽  
L. Carrai

Investigating the pressure scalability of pollutant emissions from a heavy-duty diffusion flame type, natural gas fuelled gas turbine combustor a two steps approach is presented in the current paper. First a theoretical viewpoint is established using similitude theory to characterize the operation conditions chosen for atmospheric tests in relation to the real gas turbine pressurized conditions. Then the corresponding experimental tests are presented for the full-scale gas turbine combustor in the original version both under atmospheric and pressurized gas turbine conditions at the ENEL test facilities. The results from the theoretical study indicate, that similitude cannot be maintained rigorously between the atmospheric and pressurized tests. However the experimentally determined NOx-emissions obtained under the reduced similarity test conditions provide a pressure scaling relation that can be maintained between the original and the retrofitted version of the combustor.


1996 ◽  
Vol 174 ◽  
pp. 363-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Einsel ◽  
Rainer Spurzem

Observations of Globular Cluster ellipticity distributions related to some fundamental parameters give strong evidence for a decay of rotational energy in these systems with time. In order to study the effectiveness of angular momentum transport (or loss, resp.) a code has been written which solves the Fokker-Planck equation in (E, Jz)-space and follows the evolution from some initial conditions through core collapse (and possibly gravothermal oscillations) up to the post-collapse phase. For the purpose of comparability with N-body simulations rotating initial model configurations according to the prescriptions of Lupton & Gunn (1987) have been constructed. These models are intended to continue previous work by Goodman (1983, Fokker-Planck) and Akiyama & Sugimoto (1989, N-Body). In this contribution the derivation of the flux coefficients is given.


Author(s):  
M. Mongiardini ◽  
J. D. Reid

Numerical simulations allow engineers in roadside safety to investigate the safety of retrofit designs minimizing or, in some cases, avoiding the high costs related to the execution of full-scale experimental tests. This paper describes the numerical investigation made to assess the performance of a roadside safety barrier when relocated behind the break point of a 3H:1V slope, found on a Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) system. A safe barrier relocation in the slope would allow reducing the installation width of the MSE system by an equivalent amount, thus decreasing the overall construction costs. The dynamics of a pick-up truck impacting the relocated barrier and the system deformation were simulated in detail using the explicit non-linear dynamic finite element code LS-DYNA. The model was initially calibrated and subsequently validated against results from a previous full-scale crash test with the barrier placed at the slope break point. After a sensitivity analysis regarding the role of suspension failure and tire deflation on the vehicle stability, the system performance was assessed when it was relocated into the slope. Two different configurations were considered, differing for the height of the rail respect to the road surface and the corresponding post embedment into the soil. Conclusions and recommendations were drawn based on the results obtained from the numerical analysis.


2015 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 98-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Biganzoli ◽  
Gaia Racanella ◽  
Lucia Rigamonti ◽  
Roberto Marras ◽  
Mario Grosso

Author(s):  
John Halkyard ◽  
Senu Sirnivas ◽  
Samuel Holmes ◽  
Yiannis Constantinides ◽  
Owen H. Oakley ◽  
...  

Floating spar platforms are widely used in the Gulf of Mexico for oil production. The spar is a bluff, vertical cylinder which is subject to Vortex Induced Motions (VIM) when current velocities exceed a few knots. All spars to date have been constructed with helical strakes to mitigate VIM in order to reduce the loads on the risers and moorings. Model tests have indicated that the effectiveness of these strakes is influenced greatly by details of their design, by appurtenances placed on the outside of the hull and by current direction. At this time there is limited full scale data to validate the model test results and little understanding of the mechanisms at work in strake performance. The authors have been investigating the use of CFD as a means for predicting full scale VIM performance and for facilitating the design of spars for reduced VIM. This paper reports on the results of a study to benchmark the CFD results for a truss spar with a set of model experiments carried out in a towing tank. The focus is on the effect of current direction, reduced velocity and strake pitch on the VIM response. The tests were carried out on a 1:40 scale model of an actual truss spar design, and all computations were carried out at model scale. Future study will consider the effect of external appurtenances on the hull and scale-up to full scale Reynolds’ numbers on the results.


Author(s):  
Athanasios Vratsikidis ◽  
Dimitris Pitilakis ◽  
Anastasios Anastasiadis ◽  
Anastasios Kapouniaris

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (01) ◽  
pp. 49-65
Author(s):  
Eric J. Terrill ◽  
Genevieve R.L. Taylor

We report on the results from a series of full-scale trials designed to quantify the air entrainment at the stern of an underway vessel. While an extremely complex region to model air entrainment due to the confluence of the breaking transom wave, bubbles from the bow, turbulence from the hull boundary layer, and bubbles and turbulence from propellers, the region is a desirable area to characterize and understand because it serves as the initial conditions of a ship's far-field bubbly wake. Experiments were conducted in 2003 from R/V Revelle and 2004 from R/VAthena II using a custombuilt conductivity probe vertical array that could be deployed at the blunt transom of a full-scale surface ship to measure the void fraction field. The system was designed to be rugged enough to withstand the full speed range of the vessels. From the raw timeseries data, the entrainment of air at speeds ranging from 2.1 to 7.2 m/s is computed at various depths and beam locations. The data represent the first such in-situ measurements from a full-scale vessel and can be used to validate two-phase ship hydrodynamic CFD codes and initialize far-field, bubbly wake CFD models.


Measurement ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 186 ◽  
pp. 110152
Author(s):  
Hongrui Gao ◽  
Tanghong Liu ◽  
Houyu Gu ◽  
Zhiwei Jiang ◽  
Xiaoshuai Huo ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adel Albaba ◽  
Massimiliano Schwarz ◽  
Corinna Wendeler ◽  
Bernard Loup ◽  
Luuk Dorren

Abstract. This paper presents a Discrete Element-based elasto-plastic-adhesive model which is adapted and tested for producing hillslope debris flows. The numerical model produces three phases of particle contacts: elastic, plastic and adhesion. The model capabilities of simulating different types of cohesive granular flows were tested with different ranges of flow velocities and heights. The basic model parameters, being the basal friction (ϕb) and normal restitution coefficient (ϵn), were calibrated using field experiments of hillslope debris flows impacting two sensors. Simulations of 50 m3 of material were carried out on a channelized surface that is 41 m long and 8 m wide. The calibration process was based on measurements of flow height, flow velocity and the pressure applied to a sensor. Results of the numerical model matched well those of the field data in terms of pressure and flow velocity while less agreement was observed for flow height. Those discrepancies in results were due in part to the deposition of material in the field test which are not reproducible in the model. A parametric study was conducted to further investigate that effect of model parameters and inclination angle on flow height, velocity and pressure. Results of best-fit model parameters against selected experimental tests suggested that a link might exist between the model parameters ϕb and ϵn and the initial conditions of the tested granular material (bulk density and water and fine contents). The good performance of the model against the full-scale field experiments encourages further investigation by conducting lab-scale experiments with detailed variation of water and fine content to better understand their link to the model's parameters.


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