Experimental assessment of wind influence on high-speed train energy consumptions

Ifsttar and RFF have developed an energy model of high-speed trains in order to determine the influence of infrastructure geometry and environment on train power consumptions. Validation of this model is based on full scale tests performed for the Rhine-Rhone high-speed line acceptance of work (in 2011). This paper aims to evaluate if wind influence is a relevant parameter for the model. This involves numerical determination of aerodynamic coefficients for various wind and ground configurations and their use for the calculation of the aerodynamic efforts. Atmospheric characteristics are extrapolated from meteorological measurements thanks to the AROME numerical model, over the whole Rhine- Rhone line. Most remarkable results show for a moderate train speed (about 47 m/s), a rearward oriented wind of only 5,5 m/s lowers by 30% the power due to aerodynamic forces applied on the train, or raises it similarly if it is forwardly oriented. In conclusion, this work points out that wind influence is of first importance for computing energy consumption.