Holloman High Speed Test Track Maglev Program UpdateThe Holloman High Speed Test Track Magnetically Levitated (MAGLEV) Sled Six Degree-of-Freedom ModelHolloman High Speed Test Track Maglev Program Update

Abstract

The Holloman High Speed Test Track is developing a Maglev capability that allows a test sled to levitate using magnetic forces to restrain the sled rather than an extremely stiff and violent metal-on-metal restraint system. The current sled allows for 6 HVAR motors to be used and to date has produced speeds of 420 mph. After six successful tests the leading concern of Maglev shifted from fielding a reliable system to the lack of roll authority. Several solutions were investigated, and after several months of analyzing these solutions, it was determined that another trade study needed to be conducted to investigate moving from a “motorcycle” design to a “car” design. This “car” design would be a dual slot guideway system that would have four magnets as opposed to two. Currently we are in the middle of this analysis and are looking at several areas including what the shape and size of the guideway beam needs to be and how to properly model the behavior of the sled. The first requires looking at the aero loads that the sled and magnets put on the guideway beam. The second is aided by the several successful tests’ collected data and requires building a 6 Degree-of-Freedom model helping us determine what will happen to the sled as it travels down the guideway beams, including the vibrational loads that the sled will see. Knowing what vibrational forces the sled will see is critical because the reason we are building the Maglev system is to allow testing of sensitive munitions that cannot be tested on our regular track. The Maglev system is still in the developmental stage and will be for the next few years, however the recent successes of the system has showed a tremendous amount of progress. Once the new dual guideway system is completed, Maglev will be taken to the next level and travel Mach 1 eventually becoming a valuable asset to HHSTT.