Use of Advanced Composites in Maglev Guideway System

摘要

In 1998, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) initiated the Urban Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) Transit Technology Development Program to refine existing and to develop new technologies that will lead to a deployable US urban Maglev system with advanced characteristics, which have life-cycle cost and performance benefits. One of the key elements of the urban Maglev systems is the guideway, which represents 40-60% of the system cost. This feasibility study examined the suitability of the use of advanced Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites for the construction of Maglev guideways. The guideway system performance criteria have stringent requirements with respect to ride quality, aesthetics, behavior under extreme environmental loading, durability, construction, maintenance, and system scalability. These many criteria have led collectively to a guideway structure that is capable of delivering high structural and durability performance with modularity and optimization capability characteristics over the 75 year life-cycle of the system.