China launches CR450 train capable of speeds of 400 km/h: how challenges were overcome.

China is preparing to launch a new generation of high-speed trains - the CR450, which can travel at speeds of up to 400 km/h. According to the South China Morning Post, the train is currently undergoing final tests before it is launched for commercial use.

For a long time, the 350 km/h mark remained a limit for trains due to the rapid increase in air resistance. According to project researcher Shao Jun, increasing the speed by 50 km/h causes a 30% increase in resistance, with 95% of that resistance coming from the air.

To overcome the barrier, engineers rethought the train's aerodynamics, drawing inspiration from the shapes of fast-flying birds. The new streamlined shape of the front section reduced resistance by 2.6%. Additional savings were achieved by refining the bottom of the body: thanks to a special cladding system to cover exposed parts of the trolley, aerodynamic resistance was reduced by 22%.

Despite the increased speed, the energy consumption of the CR450 remained at the level of the current Fuxing CR400 train, which operates at speeds of up to 350 km/h. Thus, the new train is not only faster but also energy-efficient.

A separate challenge at such speeds became braking - to stop the CR450 from 400 km/h to a complete stop at a distance of 6.5 km, a new heat-resistant brake material was created. Its development and testing took over a year.

The launch of the train into regular operation is expected to happen very soon.

Summary

China is preparing to launch the high-speed CR450 train, capable of traveling at speeds of up to 400 km/h. Engineers have improved the train's aerodynamics, inspired by the shapes of fast-flying birds, which has allowed for reduced air resistance and made the train energy-efficient. The new heat-resistant braking system will allow for reducing speed from 400 km/h to a complete stop at a distance of 6.5 km. All these innovations could revolutionize high-speed rail transport in the future.