ABSTRACT
High-speed railway systems have been adopted in Japan and many European countries for intercity connections for several decades. The technologies used in the core systems, such as locomotive, signaling, tunnel design, etc. are mature enough that traveling in 300kph or above is not uncommon in the world now. High-speed railway systems are now being implemented or planned in several Asian countries. For the station design for high-speed railway system network, in particular those passing inside the city centre, to reduce the environmental impacts, such as noise and visual, there is a planning consideration to have the station built underground and with tunnel connections. However, the piston effect due to high-speed train movement inside tunnels will generate considerable aerodynamic issues on pressure and airflow inside the underground station. This paper discusses briefly the main aerodynamic issues related to high-speed train / tunnel interactions. The methods and tools to analyze and tackle pressure and airflow effects are illustrated by using a generic underground station with adjoining tunnels at both ends.
Keywords: High-speed Railway, Tunnel Aerodynamics, Pressure Waves, ThermoTun.
