Risks of Ear Complaints of Passengers and Drivers While Trains Are Passing Through Tunnels at High Speed: A Numerical Simulation and Experimental Study

Abstract

Ear complaints induced by interior pressure transients are common experiences for passengers and crew members when high-speed trains are passing through tunnels. However, approaches to assessing the risks of the pressure-related aural discomfort have not been reported until recently. The objective of this study was to evaluate the hazards of interior pressure transients of high-speed train on human ears combining the effects of operation speed and seal index. Moving model tests were conducted to obtain the pressure transients when the model train runs in the tunnel. The recorded data were transformed into the interior pressures by empirical formula. Furthermore, the aural sensations were divided into four levels hierarchically and the range for each level was derived by logistic regression analysis method and represented by three biomechanical metrics. Furthermore, a human middle ear finite element (FE) model was used to simulate its dynamics under the interior pressures. The results indicate that lifting operation speed from 250 km/h to 350 km/h in tunnel will prolong the duration of ear complaints by more than two times whereas improving the seal index from 4 s to 12 s will reduce the incidences of the onset of tinnitus and hearing loss by more than ten times. In addition, the duration of aural comfort shortens from the head car to the tail car against the running direction. It is desirable that enhancing the seal index improve the aural sensations of the passengers and crew members considering the lifting operation speed of high-speed train.

The Relationship between Sound and Amenities of Transit-Oriented Developments

“…Regarding the relationship between noise, train stations and tunnels in terms of public health, Xie, Peng, Wang, and Zhang conducted experiments in tunnels to examine the effects of high-speed rails on hearing [60]. The authors found that acoustic discomfort occurred when a train passed in the middle of the tunnel [60].…”

“…Regarding the relationship between noise, train stations and tunnels in terms of public health, Xie, Peng, Wang, and Zhang conducted experiments in tunnels to examine the effects of high-speed rails on hearing [60]. The authors found that acoustic discomfort occurred when a train passed in the middle of the tunnel [60]. In a similar study, Maclachlan, Ögren, van Kempen, Hussain-Alkhateeb, and Persson Waye (2018) examined the relationship between annoyance and rail vibrations while considering neighborhood distance to analyze public health implications by using a self-reported questionnaire of 6894 persons in Sweden [61].…”

Impact of coupled effects of airtight components at variable cross-section location on vehicle airtightness in Wuhan metro

“…[5][6][7][8][9] The non-sealed design of metro trains allows external pressure fluctuations to enter the carriages through gaps such as air conditioning systems and doors, affecting passenger comfort and potentially leading to symptoms such as ringing and ear pain. [10][11][12][13][14][15] Therefore, in order to enhance the operational speed and passenger comfort of metro trains, a thorough investigation into the airtightness of metro trains is urgently needed.…”

Experimental simulation of alternating aerodynamic loads induced by high-speed trains passing in tunnels

“…Tinnitus happens in passengers and even eardrum damage might occur. [14][15][16] In vehicle tests, it is hard to repeat the service environment in full-lifecycle, and primarily of high cost. Hence, laboratory test becomes a popular way to simulate pressure change.…”