Lateral dynamic analysis of two maglev trains passing each other subject to train-induced wind effect

As train speed becomes faster, the aerodynamic load they face also increases, which can create safety risks for maglev trains when two trains meet. To address this, the computational fluid dynamic (CFD) approach was used to assess the aerodynamic coefficients of the guideway and the vehicles. The aerodynamic pressure of the vehicle surface, which is obtained by CFD, is verified by field measurement results. Then, a dynamic analysis model of maglev train-guideway systems under the train-induced wind effect was presented. Finally, the dynamic responses of the maglev trains and the guideways during the meeting of the two trains were analyzed. The effects of train speed and line spacing were explored in detail. The results show that the change of the aerodynamic coefficients of the head car of the 3-car train is the most drastic during the meeting of the two trains. Coupling vibration analyses demonstrate that there are strong effects on the lateral vibration of the car body and less impact on the guidance gap. When the train speed is 430 km/h, the peak values of acceleration for two trains passing each other are approximately five times as large as that of a single train passing. On this basis, an optimization measure is proposed, and the line spacing of the maglev line is increased from 5.1 m to 5.6 m, which will greatly reduce the aerodynamic coefficient and lateral acceleration of the train by about 20%.