Analytical and numerical models for the aerodynamic noise prediction of an high-speed train pantograph

The present work deals with the aeroacoustic analysis of a three-dimensional pantograph model, through the employment of an innovative analytical approach and a 3D numerical modeling. Specifically, the proposed analytical approach, aimed to predict the noise emission, is based on a modified formulation of the Smith and Chow's formula. Namely, by considering the entire landing gear structure as a sum of cylindrical elements, each cylinder noise has been individually calculated by the formula, as a result, based on the superposition principle, the whole noise is obtained; considering that the pantograph can also be considered as a sum of cylindrical elements, this formula, initially developed for aircraft landing gears, has been optimized and calibrated for the purpose of the present study. Because of, the analytical formula does not take obviously into account several effects related to the noise generation mechanism, a 3D numerical aeroacoustic model of the pantograph was needed. Specifically, the theoretical background adopted is the Williams and Hawkings acoustic analogy, an evolution of the well-known Lighthill acoustic analogy. The latter consists in the substitution of the noise generating surface with a distribution of dipole punctual sound sources, whose intensity is proportional to the temporal variation of fluid dynamic quantities acting in that point. As a result, a more detailed characterization of the noise spectrum can be provided. The analytical and numerical results have been then compared in terms of sound pressure levels and a well spectral contents, to themselves and to available experimental data.