Simulation Study on the Effects of Stacking Arrangements of Railway Hazardous Material Containers on Temperature Distribution under Strong Solar Radiation

Abstract

This paper addresses the safety concerns of railway hazardous material transportation under the conditions of intense solar radiation and complex geographical climate in Northwest China. Using a standard 20-foot general-purpose container as the research subject, this study employs SolidWorks for 3D modeling and Fluent for simulation to investigate the impact of different stacking arrangements on the internal temperature distribution of cargo. Based on solar radiation (S2S) and turbulence models, and setting the summer environmental conditions of the Golmud region as the simulation scenario, the temperature field variations under monolithic (single-block) and bipartite (two-block) stacking arrangements are compared and analyzed. The results indicate that under strong solar radiation, the monolithic stacking method, due to poor air circulation, tends to cause heat accumulation leading to localized high-temperature zones. In contrast, the bipartite stacking arrangement effectively promotes more uniform temperature distribution by enhancing air flow, thereby reducing the risk of localized overheating. The simulation further suggests that leaving appropriate gaps between cargo stacks, controlling stacking height, and avoiding direct placement against sun-exposed container walls can improve heat transfer and prevent heat buildup. This study provides theoretical guidance and a practical reference for optimizing stacking strategies and thermal management in railway hazardous goods transportation, particularly in high-altitude and high solar radiation regions.