Page 338 - 360.revista de Alta Velocidad - Nº 5

Sepúlveda Abad, Silvia. Lastra de la Rubia, Emilia.

• For single track tunnels it is assumed that only one train is in the tunnel at any given time.
Although it is true, the current single track tunnels are much longer than then and could
allow several trains in a tunnel at the same time.
• For double track tunnels, it is considered that crossing trains can enter at the same time or
at different times in the tunnel.

The type of rolling stock that is contemplated is the following:

Type of train Rate of speed considered (km/h)

Standard Modern train 180 – 220
Streamlined high-speed train 200 - 350

Table 3 Types of trains considered in UIC Code

However, it is also included the following footnote:

“For trains and speeds which are outside the scope of this leaflet, it is recommended that
specific calculations be undertaken to determine the design area, using a one-dimensional
computer simulation method of the type used in this leaflet for instance”

• Interpolation is allowed when necessary, but extrapolation is not allowed. Furthermore,
in this sense it is indicated that if extrapolation is necessary, specific calculations should
be performed using a one-dimensional program.

• The passage of freight trains it is not contemplated, therefore if these are necessary the
verification must be done by means of specific calculations.

In short, there were a number of constraints that were gradually limiting the use of the leaflets
and directing the aerodynamic calculation towards the use of specific uni-dimensional calculation
programs that allowed individual modelling for each case. The most important limitation was
the length of the tunnels, which were increasingly longer so in some cases extrapolation was
necessary and was not allowed.
It was therefore necessary to start using one-dimensional programs.

4. Thermotun

Throughout 2007, at INECO, an innovation project was developed, which consisted of validating
the results obtained through the use of THERMOTUN software were the same as the full scale
measurements performed in tunnels. While this software was recognized worldwide, as one of
the best aerodynamic calculation software, in Spain was unknown, therefore INECO carried out
the verification with the collaboration of ADIF.
During the development of the project, measurements were made in the tunnels of the Madrid
- Zaragoza LAV, in particular in Dehesillas, Castejón and Bubierca double track tunnels.

Measurements were also made in the single track Guadarrama tunnel of LAV Madrid
- Valladolid.

336 360.revista de alta velocidad