High Speed Ground Transportation Research Articles

Innovative technologies in the development of high-speed ground transport

Aim: is a comparative analysis of the technical and economic characteristics of various types of land rail transport.
 Methods: comparative analysis, structuring of high-speed traffic processes, logical analysis of the cause-and-effect organization of the high-speed highways, made it possible to formalize the technical advantages of maglev transport technology in comparison with the construction of high-speed highways.
 Results: A key trend has been identified to increase traffic speeds, requiring the convergence of various transport systems. The main criteria for innovative high-speed ground transport systems are classified. It is substantiated that increasing the level of technical characteristics of innovative technologies in the development of high-speed ground transport will allow maglev transport to become a key link in multimodal transport corridors. A comparison of the technical and economic characteristics of various types of land railway transport confirms that the introduction of MLTT into the transport complex will be able to significantly influence the matrix of the transport industry and accumulate both the passenger flow of air and rail traffic, as well as part of the containerized cargo, and become a key link in the multimodal transport corridors of the Russian Federation.
 Conclusion: The conclusions are based on a representative sample of data on the innovative, technological and economic parameters of two high-speed rail construction technologies: wheel-rail and magnetic levitation.

Research of the track irregularity spectrum of Shanghai high-speed transrapid demonstration line

High-speed maglev system is a hot research topic nowadays in the field of high-speed ground transportation. Characteristics of the track irregularity of high-speed maglev system is quite different due to its contactless vehicle-rail relationship and segmented track compared with traditional railway. However, research on maglev track irregularity is still insufficient. This paper summarises, for the first time, the track inspection data collected on Shanghai Maglev Demonstration Line (Shanghai Line) since 2006, and describes the main filtering methods and parameters for acceleration and gap signals, taking into account the characteristics of maglev track. Track irregularity is then determined using the inertial measurement principle. The measured track spectrum on Shanghai Line calculated by the Welch method obeys a chi-square distribution with 2 degrees of freedom, indicating that different track qualities can be transformed by probability methods according to the research requirements. Based on the samples obtained over the past 15 years, and referring to the seven-parameter model of the railway system, a high-speed maglev track spectrum is obtained by the fitting method, parameters of which are obtained by applying the damped least squares method. Preliminary vehicle dynamic analysis is conducted utilising the inverted excitations derived from the measured spectrum of the Shanghai Line.

Investigation of the capabilities of a supersonic transport system in a rarefied environment

The paper is devoted to the study of problems in organizing high-speed ground transport traffic. The solution to this problem may be the organization of a combined transport system, which involves the movement of a transport unit in a rarefied environment of limited space, using the principles of magnetic levitation. The use of such a system will significantly increase the speed of a transport unit up to the supersonic range due to the following factors: reduced aerodynamic air resistance when moving; the absence of direct contact of the transport unit with the lower structure of the track and, as a result, the complete absence of friction; separate dedicated lines allow the use of structures that allow for a significant increase in freight traffic. The paper explores the possibilities of developing the basic principles of movement of a transport system based on magnetic levitation in a rarefied environment, modeling key processes, determining the main parameters of a new transport system and establishing their optimal ratio, reduced to conditions of safe and energy-efficient operation. As well as an assessment of possible risks associated with the use of this type of transport, both for freight and passenger transportation.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Image Processing With the Use of a Neural Network

Transport infrastructure facilities are critically important. To ensure their functioning, it is necessary to apply tracking methods that provide a high degree of protection. The article deals with the issues of unauthorized intrusion of foreign objects controlling, in order to prevent a dangerous impact on the infrastructure of high-speed transport. In this regard, it is proposed to conduct round-the-clock surveillance using unmanned aerial vehicles. Due to the fact that the range of UAV’s action distance is limited, therefore, it is proposed to use a remote method of detecting the intrusion of objects on the infrastructure with the use of an optical cable OK. The joint use of UAVs and OK allows to create a reliable system that provides control over the intrusion on the infrastructure. Special video cameras (thermal imagers, Lidar) are installed on unmanned aerial vehicles, providing inspection of the invasion area during day and night time. Since video recording devices have different resolution, the task is to apply methods for integrating data with different resolution and processing them by a neural network. The implementation of infrastructure tracking systems requires increasing demands on the network structure. One of the tasks set in this article is the development of the structure of the intrusion detection network on the high–speed ground transport infrastructure.

A Critical Review of Hyperloop (Ultra-High Speed Rail) Technology: Urban and Transport Planning, Technical, Environmental, Economic, and Human Considerations

Companies globally have been trying to alter existing transportation systems to maximize public transport benefits, especially in the sector of high-speed (HS) ground transportation. The latest invention of such is Elon Musk's ultra-high-speed rail (UHSR), hyperloop. This technology enables a rail service to operate at a potential speed of 1,200 km/h. Hyperloop's ambitious speed goal has the potential to result in time-space shrinkage, which would then make distant cities more accessible with greatly reduced travel times. Since 2013, several companies have been vigorously promoting hyperloop development in various locations worldwide and competing to construct the world's first functional and commercially viable hyperloop. India, a country struggling with existing public transportation and urban mobility needs, agreed to construct a hyperloop through the company “Virgin Hyperloop One.” This paper first investigates the key technical, environmental, economic and human considerations in assessing the applicability of hyperloop to a particular location. It also considers in some detail the likely urban and regional planning and transport policy implications of the hyperloop technology based on the known effects of existing high-speed rail (HSR) systems. The paper concludes that many of the claims about hyperloop are subject to contrary information, meaning that great caution and prudence are currently needed regarding attempts at commercial deployment.

Contributions to the post-World War II History of High-Speed Ground Transport in the United States

Contributions to the post-World War II History of High-Speed Ground Transport in the United States

Development of a futuristic technology programme: How the aerospace industry (almost) transformed ground transportation in the United States (1960–1972)

After a long policy development process under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, the High-Speed Ground Transportation Act of 1965 was enacted. Section One of the Act called for developing futuristic ground transport systems with, for example, high-speed vehicles floating on cushions of air over specialised guideways and inside vacuum tubes. These unconventional technologies were conceived and promoted by aerospace companies and military agencies that exercised increasing influence within the federal government after World War II. During the implementation of the 1965 Act, contractors such as Grumman Aerospace made tangible progress towards a prototype air-cushion system. However, just when it was ready for testing, President Nixon changed course and terminated the Section One programme in 1972. An important lesson derived from this generally unknown chapter in American transport history is that the promotion of futuristic technologies by powerful corporations creates seductive, but often perilous choices for governments.

Experimental and Numerical Analyses of a Novel Wing-In-Ground Vehicle

The AeroCity is a new form of transportation concept that has been developed to provide high-speed ground transportation at a much lower cost than the existing high-speed railway. Utilizing the Wing-in-Ground (WIG) effect, the AeroCity vehicle does not require complex infrastructures like other contemporary concepts, such as the Hyperloop or Maglev trains. In the current work, the aerodynamic characteristics of the AeroCity vehicle are examined through a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis. The results from the CFD analysis qualitatively match with the findings of wind tunnel experiments. Surface streamlines and boundary layer measurements correspond well with the numerical data. However, the force measurements show a discrepancy. It is found that the separation bubble over the side plates is not captured by the CFD, and this is responsible for an under-prediction of the drag at higher free-stream velocities. The Transition SST model improved the matching between the experiments and numerical simulations. The influence of the moving ground is numerically investigated, and the effect of non-moving ground on the vehicle aerodynamics was found not to be significant. Finally, the inclusion of the track wall is examined. It is found that the merging of the wingtip vortices is responsible for a significant drag increase and, therefore, an alternative track geometry should be investigated.

Inverse problems in the design of electromagnetic mechanisms of ground vehicle magnetic levitation systems

An increase in the speed of ground transport, along with an increase in its safety, economic efficiency, environmental friendliness, and for passengers - the comfort of transportation, is one of the most important goals of progress in this area of human activity. One of the main innovative phenomena of land transport that meets these goals has been the creation of high-speed ground transport based on magnetic levitation. The purpose of this work is to develop an effective method for solving inverse problems of designing electromagnetic mechanisms for systems of magnetic levitation and lateral stabilization of ground transport. To achieve this goal, the following tasks were set and solved. Statements of conditionally well-posed inverse problems of designing electromagnetic mechanisms of ground transport magnetic levitation systems with objective functions and constraints that take into account the features of the magnetic system are formulated. A numerical method and a computational algorithm for solving the optimal design problem have been developed, which makes it possible to reduce the time of its solution. The advantage of the algorithm is the presence in it of the procedure for minimizing the mass of the electromagnetic mechanism. Experimental studies of the developed method for solving inverse problems have been carried out. The application of the method has been demonstrated on a specific electromagnetic mechanism, however, it can also be used in the design of other technical devices.

Hyperloop Academic Research: A Systematic Review and a Taxonomy of Issues

Hyperloop is a proposed very high-speed ground transportation system for both passenger and freight that has the potential to be revolutionary, and which has attracted much attention in the last few years. The concept was introduced in its modern form relatively recently, yet substantial progress has been made in the past years, with research and development taking place globally, from several Hyperloop companies and academics. This study examined the status of Hyperloop development and identified issues and challenges by means of a systematic review that analyzed 161 documents from the Scopus database on Hyperloop since 2014. Following that, a taxonomy of topics from scientific research was built under different physical and operational clusters. The findings could be of help to transportation academics and professionals who are interested in the developments in the field, and form the basis for policy decisions for the future implementation of Hyperloop.

ПРИМЕНЕНИЕ ЛИНЕЙНЫХ АСИНХРОННЫХ ДВИГАТЕЛЕЙ ДЛЯ ВЫСОКОСКОРОСТНОГО НАЗЕМНОГО ТРАНСПОРТА

Magnetic suspension in high-speed ground transport systems is an alternative to the rail wheel. The successful solution to the development of high-speed ground transport is largely determined by the creation of operationally efficient linear motors, the main task of which is to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy and create tractive force to ensure the movement of the crew according to a given program in the range of operating speeds. The article investigates linear asynchronous motors with longitudinal closure of magnetic flux of single-ended design. As a result of investigation of physical processes in linear motors caused by edge problems it was found that the cause of the transverse edge effect is the finite width dimensions of the reactive bus, the change of which causes closure of eddy currents within the active area of inductor, leads to weakening of magnetic field in the central zone and to reduction of tractive force. The discrepancy between the calculated and experimental indicators of physical processes in linear asynchro- nous motors due to significant idealization of mathematical models led to the development of a three-dimensional theory, brought to the calculation programs. The developed calculation program of electromechanical characteristics of linear induction motors with inductor and reactive bus layout, as well as their geometrical and physical parameters allows to determine the necessary integral motor characteristics in the form of a levitation function.

Comparison of conventional high speed railway, maglev and hyperloop transportation systems

Increasing the speed of transportation has been a subject that human beings have been working on for many years. Because of insufficient traffic corridors, the interest of more passenger in limited time and the advancement of railway technology, the high-speed ground transportation systems have developed. Nowadays, these time-saving transportation systems are becoming important increasingly and systems that will ensure these are implemented and new ones are being researched. High speed ground transportation systems can be divided into three categories: Conventional high-speed railway, Maglev and Hyperloop transportation system. Within the scope of this study, it is aimed to investigate the advantages and disadvantages aspects of high speed transportation systems by comparing in terms of speed, capacity, energy consumption, cost and environmental effects. Conventional high-speed railways can provide high capacity, comfort and safety and reliability thanks to enormous operational experience as regards other systems. The Maglev technology can offer more remarkable travel times, energy efficient and better operational performance. However, high investment cost and incompatibility with other modes are seen the disadvantage features of this technology. The Hyperloop technology is a considerable innovative transportation system which is popularized with publishing design document by Elon Musk in 2013. Projected high-speed and appealing travel times can be evaluated as the advantages of the Hyperloop transportation system. However, there are safety, reliability, comfort and engineering design challenges to overcome in this technology. Taking everything into consideration, the Hyperloop transportation system has potential to be an alternative mode to other systems.

Mitigating the Piston Effect in High-Speed Hyperloop Transportation: A Study on the Use of Aerofoils

The Hyperloop is a concept for the high-speed ground transportation of passengers traveling in pods at transonic speeds in a partially evacuated tube. It consists of a low-pressure tube with capsules traveling at both low and high speeds throughout the length of the tube. When a high-speed system travels through a low-pressure tube with a constrained diameter such as in the case of the Hyperloop, it becomes an aerodynamically challenging problem. Airflow tends to get choked at the constrained areas around the pod, creating a high-pressure region at the front of the pod, a phenomenon referred to as the “piston effect.” Papers exploring potential solutions for the piston effect are scarce. In this study, using the Reynolds-Average Navier–Stokes (RANS) technique for three-dimensional computational analysis, the aerodynamic performance of a Hyperloop pod inside a vacuum tube is studied. Further, aerofoil-shaped fins are added to the aeroshell as a potential way to mitigate the piston effect. The results show that the addition of fins helps in reducing the drag and eddy currents while providing a positive lift to the pod. Further, these fins are found to be effective in reducing the pressure build-up at the front of the pod.

Ultra high-speed ground transportation systems: Current Status and a vision for the future

Ultra high-speed ground transportation systems: Current Status and a vision for the future

To the choice of the MAGLEV system traction linear synchronous motorstator winding scheme

Aim: Analysis of electromagnetic processes in the linear synchronous traction motor of high-speed ground transport (MAGLEV) and the choice of stator winding connection schemejustification.
 Methods: An analytical study of theoretical relations.
 Results: The study found that a two-layer stator winding connection scheme is more preferable
 Conclusion: A system with a single-layer stator winding connection circuit is characterized by loading excitation solenoids with harmful forces, the inefficiency of their protection from the higher harmonics of the stator winding by choosing the geometry of its coil and solenoid, and the formation of additional colliding force during lateral displacement of the underframe. All these unadvisable effects are absent in a two-layer scheme.

Redchyts Evaluation of aerodynamic and thermal loads on the HYPERLOOP capsule fuselage in a partly evacuated tube

Aerodynamics occupies an important place in the design of high-speed ground transportation systems. When a vehicle is moving at a speed above 500 km/h under atmospheric pressure, the main energy is spent to overcome the aerodynamic drag. Creating a rarefied atmosphere inside a sealed pipe in order to significantly reduce energy loss is one of the key ideas of the HYPERLOOP project [1].The paper assesses the aerodynamic and thermal loads on the HYPERLOOP capsule fuselage in a partly evacuated tube based on the numerical solution of the Navier-Stokes equations of compressible flow closed by a differential turbulence model [2-4]. Numerical modeling was carried out with the help of the computational fluid dynamics software developed by the scientific researchers of the Institute of Transport Systems and Technologies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine [5].It was shown that even under conditions of low air pressure in a partly evacuated tube the high-speed movement of the HYPERLOOP capsule will be accompanied by the formation of local supersonic zones, shock waves and non-stationary vortex systems. The structure of the flow essentially depends on geometry of the streamlined capsule and the speed of its movement.It was found that the flow structure and the values of aerodynamic dimensionless coefficients weakly depend on the pressure in the partly evacuated tube. Thus, the aerodynamic forces acting on the HYPERLOOP capsule at the same speeds are almost directly proportional to the pressure value in the tube.A certain problem in the design of the HYPERLOOP type high-speed vehicles will be the aerodynamic heating of the capsule fuselage. When the capsule moves at transonic speed the temperature of the outer surface of the capsule will be 60÷900 C. This heat load can have a negative impact on the performance of onboard power supply and control systems, as well as on the ensuring of the passengers’ comfort on the way.

Analysis of interrelation between level of mobility and transport expenses of population

Passenger transport is a basis in the transport system of any country. The task of transport is to provide an opportunity for every person to reach any point of our planet, not only safely, comfortably and quickly, but with little expenses.
 Aim: the arm of this study is to evaluate dynamics and share of transport expenses in population of the Russian Federation, and to study interrelation between figure of transport expenses of population and its transport mobility, and passenger transport fares.
 Methods: to achieve the set aim, such common scientific methods as observation, analysis, generalization, and analogy were used.
 Results: it is noted that transport expenses of the population increase at a slower pace than consumer spending. When considering the factors affecting the transportation costs of the population, it was determined that against the background of decreasing volumes of passenger traffic there is an increase in transportation tariffs. When comparing the indices of passenger tariffs and the consumer price index, a rapid increase in the cost of passenger traffic compared to prices for consumer goods was noted, which makes transport services less accessible to the public.
 Conclusion: The accelerating pace of life and economic realities today pose to transport companies certain tasks to ensure high speeds. High-speed ground transportation is coming to the fore, one of the types of which is a magnetic-vehicle transport, which, in addition to high speed, has certain advantages, such as safety, comfort, energy efficiency and high throughput. The development of new high-speed modes of transport, including a magnetic-casting, will ensure a high level of transport mobility and, accordingly, the country's economic development.

Levitation Characteristics of a Transport Installation with an Electrodynamic Suspension During a Longitudinal Joint with Road Track

Aim:to propose a technical solution to ensure the lateral stabilization of the vehicle with an electrodynamic suspension. Development of a method for calculating the levitation characteristics of a transport installation with an electrodynamic suspension in the presence of a longitudinal joint in the track. Analysis of the results of theoretical studies.
 Мaterials and methods: The article used the methods of the electromagnetic field theory, generalized functions, Fourier transform, analytical and numerical methods for determining quadratures. The program for PC was developed in the Fortran language.
 Result: to ensure lateral stabilization of the vehicle with an electrodynamic suspension, it was proposed to introduce a longitudinal insulating joint into the structure of the track bed. A mathematical model is proposed for this system of electrodynamic suspension in approximation of an infinitely wide track structure of rectangular cross section.
 A mathematical model is proposed for this system of electrodynamic suspension in approximation of an infinitely wide track structure of rectangular cross section. Numerical integration of these equations was performed by applying the Gauss formula and the Philo method. The results of the calculations allowed us to obtain a number of graphical dependencies of the levitation characteristics on the magnitude of the lateral displacement of the carriage electromagnet from a relatively symmetrical position.
 Conclusion: thus, the obtained results of the study fully meet the goal of determining the parameters of the side stabilization of the vehicle with an electrodynamic suspension with a track, containing a longitudinal joint under the assumptions made.
 Comparison of the proposed method with other proposed stabilization methods does not reveal the decisive advantages or disadvantages of the new method. In most cases, its most serious drawback is its low levitation quality. However, it is significantly reduced if the movement of the high speed ground transportation vehicle occurs predominantly at high speed, at which the force of aerodynamic drag prevails over the force of electrodynamic braking.
 Same relative is and the dignity of the system-high lateral rigidity. The reason for this is that the demands on the lateral stiffness can be quantified only formulated in relation to a particular track HSGT taking into account the timetable and other factors.
 In fact, the main destabilizing influences in sideways are inertia at motion on component and crosswind. Its role in choosing the stabilization system could play and other tasks the system subsystems HSGT.
 For example, installing additional stabilizing magnets can make it difficult to escape the passenger compartment from the magnetic field. Plays a role also principle and system design of traction. From the above it is clear that the final choice of the lateral stabilization of the research at this stage would be premature.
 Proposed and studied in this article a new way to stabilize should be regarded as another possible along with the preceding. The answer to the question on the competitiveness of the new method must be bound to the characteristics of specific trails HSGT. Necessary and further refinement of results associated with the more strict account of edge effect, as well as consideration of the case of uninsulated interface.

Формирование понятия инновационных систем высокоскоростного наземного транспорта (ИСВНТ) в модели современной экономики

Формирование понятия инновационных систем высокоскоростного наземного транспорта (ИСВНТ) в модели современной экономики

Scaling laws for electrodynamic suspension in high‐speedtransportation

Electrodynamic suspension (EDS) relies on the repulsive force created by eddy currents in a stationary conductive body (rail) and a magnetic field generated by an excitation system on a moving vehicle (pod). The excitation system in this paper consists of permanent magnets in a Hallbach array. EDS generates lift forces that levitate the pod reliably at high speeds of the vehicle since no mechanical suspension is required. Therefore, it gains interest for high-speed transportation applications such as the Hyperloop project, driven by the Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX). Electrodynamic fields and forces have been analysed in detail in the literature; however, the sophistication and/or limited applicability of analytical approaches or the computational burden of FEM/numerical methods render those impractical for the initial design of EDS systems. Therefore, power and loss scaling laws for EDS systems are derived in this study. A 3D simulation for a design example shows that the scaling law is within 10% deviation. Finally, the drag coefficient of EDS systems is compared with other forms of commercial high-speed ground and air transportation systems. A pod with EDS running in vacuum has the potential of decreasing energy consumption significantly above the cruising speeds of modern subsonic airliners.