Selected methods for applying biomimicry to high-speed train concept design

Abstract

Biomimicry as a scientific-research field, with a specific approach to the creation of useful value, methods, and systems based on the understanding of Nature, aims to improve the quality of life, preserve Nature and live in harmony with Nature. The most famous example of biomimicry of the shape of a kingfisher's beak on industrial design is the bionic high-speed train (BHST) of the Japanese railway - the Shinkansen. In the literature, for about thirty years since its creation, no description of the method of performing biomimicry has been found, one that resulted in the exceptional characteristics of BHST: reduction of noise, an increase of speed, reduction of consumed energy, and cost price. The presented biomimicry method for high-speed train aerodynamic design (BMAD) aims to offer a way to perform bird-to-train biomimicry. BMAD contains phases: acquisition of new knowledge and skills from different fields; selection and examination of biological samples; investigation of kingfisher biomechanics in diving maneuver; research of bionic 2D BHST; biomimicry of diving maneuvers - a combined method for determining the similarity of 2D flows bird - BHST; BHST 3D concept-design research and BMAD validity assessment. BMAD applies various numerical and experimental methods, some of which were developed based on biomimicry: aerodynamics (flying animals), hydrodynamics (swimming and diving animals), part of fluid mechanics and computational fluid mechanics (flying and swimming, noise, turbulence, etc. ), thermography (snake vision), rigid body mechanics (biomechanics) and 3D laser scanning (bat echolocation). BMAD, despite limited sources and resources, represents a collection of new knowledge and skills, which gave realistic results and opened up a completely new possibility of optimizing the method and design of BHST. In the design process, BMAD is compatible with known design and optimization methods. By improving BMAD, research results would become more quickly available, more precise, and more reproducible.