Dynamics of the Mechanical Levitation Control System for Maglev Transport Vehicle (Effect of Guide Wheel Stiffness and Dead Zone Element)

Abstract

This paper describes the effect on ride quality and levitation performance of the guide wheel stiffness and the dead zone element of the permanent magnetic suspension system with the mechanical air gap controller. A vehicle dynamic model with the guide wheel stiffness is constructed and the stability criteria for the levitation is derived. The relation between the dynamic characteristics of the vehicle and control lever ratio is analyzed. Seventeen DOF full model simulation results, where nonlinear characteristics of magnet and primary spring are also considered, indicate that the levitation performance of the vehicle is largely affected by the dead zone in the mechanical air gap controller and that the deterioration of the levitation performance can be suppressed by a large control lever ratio.