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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/C003063/1
Title: FULL-SCALE AIRFLOW MEASUREMENTS IN A RAILWAY TUNNEL AIRSHAFT
Principal Investigator: Vardy, Professor A E
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Civil Engineering
Organisation: University of Dundee
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 August 2004 Ends: 31 January 2005 Value (£): 20,233
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Aerodynamics
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Construction
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
It is proposed that advantage be taken of a series of full-scale commissioning trials to be undertaken by the Swiss Railways (SBB) within the next 2 or 3 months on a new, high-speed railway that is scheduled to come into service in December this year. From SBB's point of view, the purpose of the tests is to confirm that the railway will perform at least as well as expected. From the applicant's point of view, they are a one-off opportunity to assess aerodynamic performance and, in particular, to obtain data regarding a key uncertainty for tunnel designers.The railway includes several tunnels in which airshafts have been incorporated for the purpose of reducing pressure transients experienced by passengers in trains (Burri & Zumsteg, 1997). It is proposed that detailed measurements of the velocity field are obtained at the top of an airshaft of one of the tunnels. SBB plans to measure pressure histories inside test trains passing through the tunnels, but they do not plan to measure airflows in the shafts (because this would not influence the outcome of the commissioning process from their point of view). Without these measurements, however, the on-board measurements will be of little value to academics and designers. This research grant application is designed to fill the gap. The opportunity has arisen at very short notice and it can be accepted only if detailed preparations begin almost immediately.
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Organisation Website: http://www.dundee.ac.uk