Unitsky String Technologies

12 January 1982

Improvement of Utran aerodynamics

Work continues to improve aerodynamics of the high-speed rail car Utran. To overcome the aerodynamic drag at high-speed movement (350-400 km/h and more) 90-95% or more drive power is used, and the specific fuel consumption depends on the drive power. Thus, fuel (energy) efficiency of the Utran depends mainly on the aerodynamic features of the body frame.

Therefore, there was developed such a shape of the body frame that allows to reduce aerodynamic drag factor to a value less than 0.1. For comparison, the aerodynamic drag factor of a modern sports car equals to 0.3-0.4 and more.

The final word rests not with theoretical research but with practical blowdown of a Utran model in the wind tunnel.

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