DEVELOPMENT OF METHODS FOR PREDICTING AIRLOADS ON TACV CONFIGURATIONS DUE TO STRONG CROSSWIND GUSTS

Equations for predicting the transient side force and yawing moment on TACV cars due to a strong side gust are developed. The protection afforded by side rails is estimated. The equations account for transient slender-body effects and growth of vortices on the lee side. For a vehicle speed of 150 mph, the analysis indicates a side gust of 60 mph would produce a transient peak in side force of 1x the steady-state value for the first car to 4.3x for the third car. An unresolved uncertainty of a factor of two in predicting the steady-state side force on TACV models in wind-tunnel tests with a moving ground plane is attributed to flow effects between the vehicle bottom and the ground plane. Because of questions regarding ground-plane simulation in wind-tunnel tests, effect of side rails on gust airloads, and the airloads due to passing trains, the feasibility of developing a facility for measuring forces and moments on moving models is explored. (Modified author abstract)

• Corporate Authors:

  Kaman AviDyne

  Burlington, MA  United States  01803
• Authors:
  • Ruetenik, J R
  • Zartarian, G
• Publication Date: 1972-3-27

Media Info

• Pagination: 106 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Intelligent transportation systems; Tracked air cushion vehicles
• Old TRIS Terms: Advanced systems
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00056958
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: KA-TR-76
• Contract Numbers: DOT-TSC-171
• Files: NTIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 31 1974 12:00AM