BUFFETING TESTS ON THE HUDSON TUBE

Buffeting tests were made on a two-car train of the Pennsylvania Railroad as it entered the Hudson tube. The pressure outside the train was measured at its head and at two locations along its side. The pressure inside the car was also measured. Tests were made at speeds between 55 and 70 mph. Results of these tests show that the pressure at the head rises abruptly when the nose of the train enters the tunnel, and gradually to a maximum of about 6 inches of water when the tail of the train enters. Beyond that time the pressure decreases. At the sides the initial abrupt rise is apparent only near the front of the first car and even there its severity is much smaller than at the head. Halfway along the first car the abrupt jump could not be detected. The subsequent gradual pressure rise is observed on all gages and is about equally steep everywhere. The pressure inside the car, which is the pressure experienced by a passenger, rises to a maximum of about 2.5 inches of water at a rate of about 1.5 inches of water per second. This pressure rise was noticeable but not painful. Since the maximum pressure increases as velocity squared and the rate of rise increases as velocity cubed, it seems clear that buffeting will be an important problem whenever speeds are significantly increased. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  Stanford Research Institute

  333 Ravenswood Avenue
  Menlo Park, CA  United States  94025
• Authors:
  • Chilton, E G
• Publication Date: 1965-6-4

Media Info

• Pagination: 30 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerodynamics; High speed rail; Pressure waves; Tunnels; Wave motion
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00039035
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: Final Rpt
• Contract Numbers: C-209-65(neg)
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 8 1994 12:00AM