Effect of aerodynamic braking plates installed in Inter-car gap on aerodynamic characteristics of high-speed train

With the continuous increase of train speeds, the aerodynamic drag force provided by aerodynamic braking plates can effectively solve problems of insufficient emergency braking force. The newly proposed aerodynamic braking plates installed in the inter-car gap (ICG) avoid the destruction of the carbody’s strength. In this study, a numerical simulation model of a four-car marshalling train with a speed of 300 km/h is established to study the effect of installation position and opening height of the braking plates mounted in the ICG on the aerodynamic characteristics. The aerodynamic characteristics of the braking plate installed upstream and downstream of the ICG were investigated separately. The downstream plate, which showed better braking performance, was further studied at plate heights of 200 mm, 400 mm, 500 mm, 600 mm, and 800 mm. Results indicate that compared to upstream plates, the aerodynamic drag force coefficient generated by the downstream plates increased by 13.2%. The aerodynamic resistance of the train and the aerodynamic lift of each car increased gradually as the height of the downstream plates increased. Additionally, the braking plate in the ICG had limited anti-crosswind capabilities, with its braking effect significantly weakened in a crosswind of 10 m/s or higher. These results will serve as a guide for the design of aerodynamic braking plates for high-speed trains.