Dynamic Performance of Medium Speed Maglev Train Running Over Girders: Field Test and Numerical Simulation

Abstract

With the ongoing development and deployment of medium-low speed maglev vehicles in China, it has become common to increase operational speeds from 100[Formula: see text]km/h up to 140[Formula: see text]km/h or even 160[Formula: see text]km/h, necessitating further studies and simulation models to understand the implications of these changes. This paper analyzes medium-speed maglev vehicle-track-girder coupling dynamic performance at a speed of 160[Formula: see text]km/h. First, a field dynamics experiment is carried out on the Changsha Maglev Express with a running speed of 80–140[Formula: see text]km/h. Then we introduce the distributed coupling simulation platform for maglev transportation system (MTS-DCSP) and the vehicle-track-girder coupling model, taking into account the complex vehicle structure, the guideway structure, and the Proportion Integral Differential (PID) levitation control system. Together, this platform and model can conduct a simulation of the complete process at scale and at all degrees of freedom to obtain accurate results. Our analysis of the results gives an accurate portrayal of the coupling dynamics properties and validates the coupling model. The results from the field experiments together with the coupling simulation demonstrate that the medium-speed maglev train can operate safely and stably within the range of 140–160[Formula: see text]km/h. While at 140[Formula: see text]km/h, however, the Sperling ride quality index (RQI) is about 2.5, which is within the Excellent grade range, at a speed of 160[Formula: see text]km/h, the Sperling ride quality index can increase to as high as 2.74, which is a grade of Good. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize the parameters of the secondary suspension system to improve the ride comfort of the maglev vehicle at 160[Formula: see text]km/h.

Physical modeling of long-term dynamic characteristics of the subgrade for medium–low-speed maglevs

“…A medium-low-speed (MLS) maglev has a running speed of less than 160 km/h, and future research studies on MLS maglev transportation will aim to achieve an operating speed of 200 km/h [2]. At present, many test lines for MLS maglev trains have been built in various countries, including Japan's Eastern Hills Line [3], South Korea's Incheon Airport Line [4], the MLS test line of the German Company Borg [5], the Changsha test line of the National University of Defense Technology [6], the Qingchengshan test line of Southwest Jiaotong University [7], the Shanghai Lingang test line of Tongji University [8], the CRRC Tangshan test line [9], the Zhuzhou test line [10], and the Beijing S1 test line [11]. An increasing number of cities are planning to build MLS maglev lines, and the prospects of MLS maglev transportation are promising.…”

“…But the track load intensity, track load distribution width, and train load impact coefficient of MLS maglevs are smaller than those of intercity railways, and the subgrade bed filling standards of the two are the same, making MLS maglev systems uneconomical. In addition, the standards of the MLS maglev subgrade in the Changsha test line [16,17] and Zhuzhou test line [10] reference the standard for a highspeed railway ballastless track, as shown in Fig. 1.…”

Research on vibration mechanism of the low-to-medium-speed maglev train-track-at-ground-structure system

“…Li et al (2021Li et al ( , 2022 tested the dynamic characteristics of the LMS maglev vehicle, track and bridge when the train standing still on the beam. Feng et al (2023) tested the dynamic responses of the maglev train 1 and simply-supported girder in Changsha Maglev Express with a running speed of 80-140 km/h. the test data showed the maglev train can runs safely and stably.…”