Dynamic behaviour suspension of HTS magnetically levitated bogie

Gino D’Ovidio1,a, Francesco Crisi1,b

1
University of L’Aquila, Faculty of Engineering, Via G. Gronchi 18, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
a
gino.dovidio@univaq.it, b crick6@yahoo.com

Abstract. This article examines the dynamic suspension behaviour of UAQ4 experimental train bogie
with self-balancing superconducting levitated system using high temperature superconductor bulk
materials (liquid nitrogen cooled) on board and permanent magnets distributed on the guide-way for
lifting and guiding of the vehicle. A model with one degree of freedom is carried out and parametric
dynamic analyses are performed and discussed.

1. Introduction

The UAQ4 system is magnetically levitated (maglev) and guided system using high temperature
superconductors (HTS) on board and permanent magnets distributed on the guideway for lifting and guiding.
It is the unique mass transportation system without resistance to the motion, except aerodynamic drag, and
largely reduced energy consumption, near zero low speed. The UAQ4 train can operate at both low speed in
urban environment and at high speed for long distance trips.
The levitation method, based on the flux pinning properties of HTS in the presence of magnetic fields
provided by permanent magnets, is frictionless, self-stable, low-noise and environmental-friendly.
This article is focused on the dynamic analysis of the suspension system behavior related to the
experimental maglev vehicle by performing both experimental and numerical analyses.

2. The set up

A full operative scaled demonstrator system has been constructed (Fig. 1) at Laboratory of University of
L’Aquila. It consists of two main contact-less parts:
1) A track (3.72 m long and 0.81 m wide) with three parallel iron-permanent magnet guideways, the outer
two of which are ‘‘V” shaped and the central one is ‘‘U” shaped. All guide-ways consist of iron beam with
NeFeB permanent magnets arranged in the inner beams surfaces according a right polarization
configuration.
2) A vehicle (0.72 m long, 0.81 m wide, 75 kg mass) with four ‘‘V” shaped superconducting ‘‘skates” (each
0.185 m long) onboard fixed to both sides of the body and with primary of linear motor in the middle of
frame. The “skates” consists of ‘‘V” assembled close arrays of melt textured YBCO monoliths immersed
in liquid nitrogen kept at low temperature in a suitable cryogenic vessel.
Stable lift and guidance of vehicle are generated by the interaction between guideways topside magnetic flux
and the superconducting “skates” under static and dynamic conditions [1,2,3].
Fig. 1 shows a the demonstrator system the vehicle (bogie) of which floats above the track thanks to the
magnetic interaction of the two outer guide-ways and the four superconducting skates; the bogie is driven by a
vertical type linear motor.

3. Model, analysis and results

A mechanical model (Fig. 2) reproducing the maglev suspension behaviour of experimental system was
carried out. The dynamic suspension behavior was analyzed by using one degree of freedom model (Fig. 3)
and the bogie vertical oscillations Δz (variation of the air gap in the time) were evaluated varying the system
parameters (additional mass and superconducting “skate” length).
The equation of motion for the model of can be described as:
d 2z dz
(mo + m1 ) ⋅ 2
+ c + kz = 0 (1)
dt dt
where z is the vertical coordinate referred to a relative reference system (x,y,z) having its origin in the
equilibrium position of mechanical system, m0 is the constant bogie mass, m1 is the variable additional mass, d
is the attenuation constant, c is the damping, and k is the stiffness.
 The stiffness is calculated by performing first derivative of the experimental suspension forces
characteristic (lift per one meter of maglev module vs. gap) polynomial fitting curve that is assumed as linear
function around the equilibrium point. The others d, c [4] and k parameters are experimentally evaluated.

m1 z

k/4
Δz m0 y
k/4
c/4
c/4
Z
Z Z gap
c/4
k/4
c k
X X
Y
Y Y

Fig. 1 Set up Fig. 2 System mechanical model Fig. 3 One freedom degree model
Fig. 4 shows the relation between stiffness, superconducting “skates” length and additional mass
instantaneously applied on the bogie at to starting time. Fig. 5 shows the gap Vs. time for different additional
mass values and at superconducting “skates” length of 0,75 m. Fig. 6 shows the relation among the
equilibrium condition time, superconducting “skates” length and gap for different values of additional mass.

Fig. 4 Stiffness Vs. superconducting “skate” Fig. 5 Gap Vs. time for different additional mass values
length for different additional mass values and for 0.75 m of superconducting “skates” length

Fig. 6 Relations among stable condition time, “skates” length and

gap for different additional mass values
References
[1] D’Ovidio G, Crisi F, Lanzara G. “A "V" Shaped Superconducting Levitation Module for Lift and Guidance of a Magnetic Transportation
System” Journal of Physica C: Superconductivity and its applications, Vol. 468, Issue 1, pp 1036-1040, 2008
[2] D’Ovidio G, Crisi F, Lanzara G. “Design and Optimization of UAQ4 Experimental Maglev Module” Material Science Forum, vol. 1058 n
670, pp 42-47, Switzerland, 2011
[3] D’Ovidio G, Crisi F, Lanzara G.” Superconducting self-balancing system for vehicle suspension and guide” 21th International Conference on
Magnetically Levitated Systems and Linear Drives, Daejeon, Korea, 2011
[4] Kühn L, Müller M et alii “Dynamic behavior of a linear superconducting levitation transport system using YBCO bulk material” 19th
International Conference on Magnetically Levitated Systems and Linear Drives), Dresden, Germany, 2006