AERODYNAMIC FORCES ON VARIOUS CONFIGURATIONS OF RAILROAD CARS FOR CARRYING TRAILERS AND CONTAINERS. WIND TUNNEL TESTS OF SIX SCALE MODEL CONFIGURATIONS

Toward improving the energy efficiency of rail intermodal service, the aerodynamic characteristics of the rolling stock offer a significant opportunity for betterment. At speeds above 45 miles per hour more than half of the resistance of an intermodal train is caused by the aerodynamic drag of the cars and their loads. Methods by which the aerodynamic drag may be minimized are, therefore, of considerable interest to railroads and car designers. This report covers the wind tunnel testing of scale models of railcars for carrying trailers and containers. The purpose was twofold: First, to determine whether significant differences in the aerodynamic characteristics of such scale models could be measured in the wind tunnel showing that it could be utilized as an evaluation tool in future railcar design programs and, second to obtain comparative performance data on five new intermodal railcar configurations.

• Record URL:
  https://www.fra.dot.gov/Elib/Document/15969
• Supplemental Notes:
  • See also Volume 4, PB80-174899.
• Corporate Authors:

  Hammitt (Andrew G) Associates

  30813 Marne Drive
  Rancho Palos Verdes, CA  United States  90274

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Hammitt, A G
• Publication Date: 1979-1

Media Info

• Pagination: 95 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerodynamic force; Aerodynamic stability; Air resistance; Container on flat car; Drag; Flat cars; Freight cars; Operating speed; Piggyback transportation; Railroad trains; Resistance (Mechanics); Speed; Trailer on flat car; Train operations; Train track dynamics; Wind; Wind tunnels
• Old TRIS Terms: Train resistance
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00313979
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: FRA/ORD-79/39 Final Rpt., 12-101-79
• Contract Numbers: DOT-FR-8058
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 22 1980 12:00AM