Comparative analysis of the effect of crosswind speed and direction on snow accumulation of high-speed train bogies region

High-speed trains operating in snowy conditions during winter encounter complex variations in wind speed and direction, which can significantly affect snow accumulation on bogies and impact train safety. This paper employs sliding mesh method, discrete phase model, and MATLAB to simulate snow accumulation by generating a random point lattice on the ground. Chinese hat gust model and uniformly rotating crosswind model are designed to investigate the influence of crosswind speed and direction on snow accumulation on high-speed train bogies. The results indicate that as crosswind speed increases from 5 to 15 m/s, the snow mass on the bogies changes as follows: bogie 1 experiences slight fluctuations, bogies 2–4 gradually decrease, bogie 5 increases, and bogie 6 initially increases and then decreases. In comparison with the steady wind, directionally rotating crosswinds result in a 29.8%, 12.8%, 10.5%, 7.5%, 26.6%, and 26.7% increase in the number of snow particle impacts per bogie, respectively. The mass of snow accumulation per bogie is increased by factors of 1.56, 1.17, 0.32, 1.15, 0.48, and 0.67, respectively. The Chinese hat gust model does not exhibit unique effects compared to steady wind models. Crosswinds cause uneven distribution of snow particles on bogies, with snow accumulation being more pronounced on leeward side, particularly on the frame and cavity. Uniformly rotating crosswinds change friction wind speed on the surfaces beneath the train and in the bogie region, leading to a significant increase in both the number of snow particle impacts and the mass of snow accumulation on the bogies.