COUPLED DYNAMIC INTERACTIONS BETWEEN HIGH SPEED GROUND TRANSPORT VEHICLES AND DISCRETELY SUPPORTED GUIDEWAYS

The coupled dynamic interactions between high speed ground transport vehicles and discretely supported guideways is investigated using modal analysis techniques to determine the performance of vehicles traversing spans with distributed mass, flexibility and damping and which rest on rigid discrete supports. Results indicate that for typical advanced transportation systems span dynamic deflections at vehicle speeds of 100 - 300 mph may approach values which are twice the span static deflection due to the vehicle weight and that vehicle heave accelerations may substantially exceed the desired 0.05 g level unless very strong constraints are placed upon system parameters. Parametric design charts are presented which provide an initial basis for the selection of vehicle and guideway system parameters to meet a given specified limit on vehicle heave acceleration. A number of numerical design examples are described to illustrate the use of the design charts and to indicate specifically the influence of vehicle weight, and suspension damping and stiffness, and guideway span configuration and length upon span deflection per unit length, mass, and stress. Limited data are also presented for the multiple vehicle passage case. (Author)