Aerodynamics of a Container Freight Train

David Soper's research explores the flow field around a container freight train. With ever increasing passenger train speeds in an already overcrowded network and environmental and economic reasons there is a real push to increase freight train speeds. However the shape and loading of freight trains causes large deformations in the air which can lead to slipstreams severe enough to displace people or cause movement in platform objects.He works alongside supervisors Professor Chris Baker and Dr Mark Sterling who are at the forefront of international research on the aerodynamic effects of trains.He conducts experiments at the TRAIN Rig in Derby, a unique moving-model facility owned by the University of Birmingham.

• Introduction.- Literature Review.- Slipstream Experiment Setup.- Slipstream Data Processing Methodology.- Slipstream Data Analysis, Results and Discussion.- Aerodynamic Load Experiment Setup.- Aerodynamic Load Experiment Processing Methodology.- Aerodynamic Load Analysis, Results and Discussion.- Conclusions and Recommendations for Further Work.