Project / Rail engineering

Aerodynamics of a locomotive and driver cab

The aerodynamic variant study assessed the locomotive and driver cab in the complete flow field.

CFD streamlines around a locomotive — Rail · CFD simulation

Industry: Rail
Services: CFD simulation

Engineering question

The exterior shape was assessed for drag and wake behavior to identify useful geometry changes.

Model & approach

Model the locomotive or driver cab in the full external flow field
Compare two operating conditions using the same evaluation logic
Use pressure distribution, wake and drag coefficient for variant assessment

Boundary conditions

Full-scale external flow
Two operating conditions
Geometry variants under comparable flow conditions

Results of the assessment

The front and cab geometry governed separation and wake development.
The revised shape showed lower drag in the CFD model under both conditions.

Additional project view

Flow field along a locomotive and its driver cab — Full-vehicle view from the aerodynamic assessment

Engineering consequence

The lower-drag shape was selected as the direction for further vehicle development.

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