Cross-wind effects on road and rail vehicles

This paper presents a review of recent research that has been carried out on the cross-wind effects on road and rail vehicles. After a brief introduction to the issues involved, the risk analysis framework is set out. All risk analysis methods require some knowledge of cross-wind aerodynamic force and moment coefficients, and methods of obtaining these through full scale and wind tunnel testing and through Computational Fluid Dynamics methods are then described. The picture of the flow fields around vehicles that is suggested by these measurements and calculations is then presented, and the steady and the unsteady aerodynamic force characteristics described. The detailed methodology for using this information to predict accident risk is then set out, including details of the vehicle dynamics system models that can be used. Finally potential alleviation methods are described and suggestions made for further works.