Aerodynamic characteristics and protective measures of the coupled high-speed maglev train–platform screen door–platform personnel system

When a high-speed maglev train passes through a platform at 600 km/h, the significant aerodynamic impact generated severely compromises the safety of platform personnel. Due to this increased operational speed, the conventional design parameters of platform screen doors used for traditional high-speed trains no longer meet the safety requirements. This study employs a combined approach of moving model tests and numerical simulations to clarify the evolution mechanism of the coupled flow field involving the 600 km/h maglev train, platform screen doors, and platform personnel. It investigates the influence of parameters such as screen door height and distance from the platform edge on the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of both the train-induced wind around personnel and the aerodynamic forces acting on the human body. The results demonstrate that both the train-induced wind and the aerodynamic force on the human body are significantly reduced as the screen door height and the distance from the track centreline increase. Increasing the screen door height from 1.6 m to 2.0 m reduced the aerodynamic force on the human body from 107 N to 43 N and the train-induced wind speed from 30 m/s to 14 m/s. Increasing the distance of the screen doors from the platform edge from 1.0 m to 1.4 m reduced the aerodynamic force from 107 N to 90 N and the train-induced wind speed from 30 m/s to 29 m/s. This research provides critical theoretical support for the future design, construction, and safe operation of maglev stations in China.