An analytical model 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 . 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. The analytical and experimental results have been then compared in terms of sound pressure levels and a well spectral contents, to themselves and to available experimental data.