Vehicle-Guideway Interaction in Maglev Systems Using a Continuously Coupled, Deformable Model

Abstract

Magnetic levitation (maglev)-based high-speed trains are one of the most promising means of transport for the near future. To optimize the relatively high investment cost of these networks, engineers need to develop accurate dynamical simulations of the whole, complex maglev system. This involves proper consideration of the interactions between the cars of the train, the levitation frames, and the guideway. In this paper a coupled model for the train-bridge interaction is introduced, which describes the vibrations of the vehicle and the guideway by using deformable Bernoulli-Euler beams continuously connected by springs and viscous dampers. The case of a train arriving on a simply supported guideway is simulated and the results are discussed in detail.