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The Hyperloop system offers revolutionary transportation, aiming for near-sonic speeds in a low-pressure environment. The aerodynamic design challenges of multiple vehicles in a confined tube remain largely unexplored, particularly regarding vehicle spacing and suspension gaps. This study investigates a jet-propelled, multi-vehicle Hyperloop system using Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations and the k − ω turbulence model. Analysis of suspension gaps and vehicle spacing on drag and thrust revealed that suspension gaps cause significant jet deflection, reducing effective thrust and increasing drag. It was found that vehicle suspension, with a 75 mm suspension gap, increased drag by 58% at Mach 0.7 compared to the unsuspended configuration. Meanwhile, smaller vehicle spacing ( X v = 0.25 L v ) reduced the drag by up to 50%, enhancing system efficiency. The results emphasize the need to address the effect of jet deflection and optimize vehicle spacing for maximum energy savings. These findings offer valuable insights for enhancing aerodynamic performance in multi-vehicle Hyperloop systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperloop is proposed as the next generation of sustainable high-speed transport. Recently, an increasing body of literature has been amassed on Hyperloop aerodynamics, however, the vast majority of this work is numerical. Experimentally, there are few relevant studies and none are suitable for validating computational approaches. This paper presents three benchmark cases to provide a framework for computational research and to address this significant gap. Benchmark 1 provides experimental data from existing work on a projectile traveling at Mach 1.1 in ground effect. This incorporates many of the flow characteristics of a Hyperloop system, including (i) transonic Mach numbers, (ii) wall confinement, and (iii) shock formation/reflection. These experimental data are compared to Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations with a very good match seen. Next, Benchmark 2 is proposed which extends these simulations toward a baseline Hyperloop pod design operating in an axisymmetric low-pressure tube environment. This is achieved in stages by adding a full tube, scaling up the domain, reducing the air pressure, and introducing a baseline pod design. It is shown that the enclosed tube environment causes the most significant change in aerodynamic characteristics via flow choking. Nevertheless, a number of aerodynamic similarities remain, compared to Benchmark 1. Finally, Benchmark 3 is proposed to explore the impact of ground clearance of the pod. This aspect has a significant influence on the flow by deflecting the wake and the downstream shock pattern. Furthermore, the drag, downforce, and pitching moment are all found to increase with lower ground clearances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the aerodynamic performance of a system of multiple vehicles (three) propelled by an electric fan/compressor system in a closed low-pressure environment. The study was conducted on a 2-D axisymmetric model of multiple vehicles traveling at the same cruising speed inside a tube. The flow field was computed using the unsteady RANS model. The results demonstrate a significant improvement in aerodynamic performance when using a multiple-vehicle system equipped with an air-breathing electrical engine. The combined use of multiple-vehicle and the air-breathing propulsion system eliminated the piston effect at low Mach numbers and reduced transonic range effects at higher Mach numbers. Consequently, a considerable enhancement in aerodynamic performance over the single-vehicle model was attained. A minimum of 11% and a maximum of 57% reduction of further in average system drag was achieved for M = 0.3 and 0.7, respectively. An increase in thrust was also observed in the multiple-vehicle system over the single-vehicle system. The results of the study demonstrated the advantage of using an air-breathing multiple-vehicle system as an efficient and environmentally friendly high-speed transportation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the air permeability of epoxy-coated normal concrete and ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) for use in Hyperloop tube structures, where maintaining ultra-low air permeability is crucial to preserving the vacuum environment. While UHPC is recognized for its exceptionally low permeability due to its dense microstructure, this research explores epoxy-coated conventional concrete as a cost-effective alternative. Using a vacuum-based permeability test simulating Hyperloop's near-vacuum conditions, the study found that epoxy-coated concrete significantly reduced air permeability compared to uncoated concrete, with specimens coated on both sides approaching near-zero permeability. Although UHPC exhibited superior performance, the epoxy-coated concrete demonstrated air-tightness and was suitable for Hyperloop applications, offering a viable and economical alternative. These findings provide important insights for material selection, suggesting that epoxy-coated conventional concrete can effectively meet the stringent requirements for Hyperloop tube construction while balancing performance with cost-efficiency.

The Hyperloop infrastructure development in Korea has become a multi-billion-dollar project. Although Hyperloop trains will bring considerable benefits to local communities, little is known about how residents perceive Hyperloop infrastructure. Drawing from the means-end chain framework, this study explores the causal relationships between the perceived benefits of Hyperloop development, how residents perceive its value, whether they support Hyperloop, and their intention to travel on Hyperloop. A total of 592 residents of Gyeongnam Province, South Korea, completed an online survey. The results revealed that (1) the perceived benefits of Hyperloop development directly lead to a positive image and perceived value of Hyperloop trains; (2) the image of Hyperloop travel significantly influences its perceived value; and (3) perceived value directly influences residents' support for Hyperloop development and intention to travel on Hyperloop trains. The study's results contribute to the tourism literature, with implications for policymakers, tasked with promoting Hyperloop development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperloop transportation technology (HTT) is a new mode of transport. It works based on moving an ultra-high-speed vehicle called a pod into the low-air pressure tubes. This paper investigated the stability analysis of a novel hybrid levitation pod considering aerodynamic forces that has not been studied yet. The proposed pod contains two levitation, electromagnetic suspension (EMS), and air cushion. In this regard, air cushions help the system overcome the overall weight. On the other hand, EMS magnets are responsible for the motion stability of the pod in the presence of aerodynamic forces using two Proportional-Derivative (PD) controllers: one for controlling the vertical displacement and another one for the lateral motion. In this paper, a 5-degrees-of-freedom (DOF) dynamic model for the proposed pod is developed that includes the vertical and lateral displacements of the pod as well as the body’s pitching, rolling, and yawing moments. In addition, the dynamic models for air cushions, magnetic suspensions, and aerodynamic forces are presented. After solving the related dynamic equations, the effect of controller parameters and aerodynamic lift and drag forces on the stability of the proposed pod is studied. Furthermore, the influence of controller coefficients and some other pod design parameters including the air cushions’ stiffness, the total mass of the pod, and the air pressure inside the tube at critical speed is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, options to reduce the climate impacts of high-speed passenger transport over hundreds of kilometres are limited to using low-carbon synthetic fuels in aviation and high-speed trains. In the future, alternatives like battery electric airplanes might be available. Further, vehicles operating in near-vacuum tubes, so-called “hyperloop systems”, could represent an alternative. Our first-of-its-kind environmental life cycle assessment (LCA), considering its construction, operation, and end-of-life, shows that such a hyperloop system is energy-efficient and can exhibit very low greenhouse gas emissions (

High-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets combined with linear synchronous motors and electrodynamic suspension (EDS) are considered as one of the most suitable technologies for Hyperloop. However, HTS magnets on pods generate strong magnetic fields, inducing eddy currents on conductive tubes when pods undergo movement through conductive tubes. The induced eddy currents affect HTS magnets, leading to electromagnetic (EM) drag, guidance, and levitation forces on the pods, thus reducing the propulsion efficiency and dynamic stability of pods. This study continues the existing research on EM drag forces between HTS magnet and tube for Hyperloop by comprehensively analyzing the EM guidance and levitation forces between HTS magnets and conductive tubes. Importantly, the full-scale 3D finite element analysis (FEA) simulations show that different steel tubes, such as AISI 1010 and high-manganese (Hi-Mn) steels, should be adopted, depending on the operating velocities, v, to avoid attractive forces in the guidance direction decreasing horizontal stiffnesses, For example, Hi-Mn tubes generating repulsive guidance forces are adopted when v is below 300 km/h while AISI 1010 tubes are used when v is over 300 km/h to minimize the construction cost of vacuum tubes to guarantee the increase in kx. For the proposed concept, the effect of the different tube connections on guidance and levitation forces is confirmed by the full-scale 3D FEA simulation. Moreover, levitation forces generated between HTS magnets and conductive tubes are nearly 0.5% of the EDS forces of pods, i.e., 200 kN over v of 150 km/h in the levitation direction. Therefore, the effect on vertical stiffnesses, ky, might be limited. In the end, to validate the proposed tube connections, the effect of the two different tube connections on guidance and levitation forces is confirmed by the full-scale 3D FEA simulation, and it was found that the sudden change in the guidance and levitation forces could be low enough to be neglected in the acceleration (from Hi-Mn to AISI 1010 steel tubes) and deceleration (from AISI 1010 to Hi-Mn steel tubes) regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows the development of a numerical analysis model, which enables the calculation of the cargo transport capacity of a vehicle that circulates through a vacuum tube at high speed, whose effectiveness in transport is analyzed. The simulated transportation system is based on vehicles moving in vacuum tubes at high speed, a concept commonly known as Hyperloop, but assuming the vehicles for cargo containers. For the specific vehicle proposed, which does not include a compressor and levitates on magnets, the system formed by the vehicle and the vacuum tube has been conceptually developed, establishing the corresponding mathematical relationships that define its behavior. To properly model the performance of this transport system, it has been necessary to establish the relationships between the design variables and the associated constraints, such as the Kantrowitz limit, aerodynamics, transport, energy consumption, etc. Once the model was built and validated, it was used to analyze the effects of the variation of the number of containers, the operating speed and the tube length, considering the total and specific consumption of energy. After finding the most efficient configuration regarding energy consumption and transport effectiveness, the complete system was calculated. The results obtained constitute a first approximation for the predesign of this transport system and the built model allows different alternatives to be compared according to the design variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperloop, a very high-speed transportation system including a pod transporting the passengers in a tube, forms the core debate in numerous recent investigations. The present paper, furthering the current advanced findings, proposes a novel hybrid levitation including Electro-Dynamic Suspension (EDS) and air cushions for the pod in the hyperloop system. It also presents a vibrational model for the hybrid levitation pod to predict the vibration behavior of the pod in accelerating and braking maneuvers. In this regard, an industrial pod is designed conceptually by performing preliminary calculations. Via CFD simulations in Ansys Fluent software, we hold forth a nonlinear dynamic model for the air cushions. Then, the paper analyzes a 3-DOF vibration model of the pod and verifies it by comparing the related results with obtained ones from the MSc ADAMS software. Afterward, the mentioned vibration model is developed into a 7-DOF model to predict the vibration behavior of the pod in accelerating and braking maneuvers. Also, the governing dynamic equations of the system are derived and numerically solved. Finally, the vibration behavior of the pod in different accelerating and braking conditions is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces the EGTL (extract, generate, transfer, load) model, a theoretical framework designed to enhance the traditional ETL processes by integrating a novel ‘generate’ step utilizing generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). This enhancement optimizes data extraction and processing, presenting a high-level solution architecture that includes innovative data storage concepts: the Fusion and Alliance stores. The Fusion store acts as a virtual space for immediate data cleaning and profiling post-extraction, facilitated by GenAI, while the Alliance store serves as a collaborative data warehouse for both business users and AI processes. EGTL was developed to facilitate advanced data handling and integration within digital ecosystems. This study defines the EGTL solution design, setting the groundwork for future practical implementations and exploring the integration of best practices from data engineering, including DataOps principles and data mesh architecture. This research underscores how EGTL can improve the data engineering pipeline, illustrating the interactions between its components. The EGTL model was tested in the prototype web-based Hyperloop Decision-Making Ecosystem with tasks ranging from data extraction to code generation. Experiments demonstrated an overall success rate of 93% across five difficulty levels. Additionally, the study highlights key risks associated with EGTL implementation and offers comprehensive mitigation strategies.

Fanno flow is one of the most studied problems in fluid mechanics, as it models the pressure losses on domains in which the characteristic length is considerably lower than the height. These types of flows are present in several applications in the industry, such as pipe flows in pneumatic and hydraulic circuits, oil pipelines or air conditioning and water distribution systems. One potential application can be found in hyperloop design, where flow at high speeds moves between the small gap between the capsule and the tube wall. In this case, the domain is annular-shaped instead of a single cylinder, and the interior wall moves at the capsule speed. Although this quasi-1D flow is strongly affected by the wall friction, it cannot be modelled using the standard Fanno expression. Thus, to model the pressure drop without extensive CFD techniques, a simplified 1D analytical expression is developed to estimate the friction losses. The model assumes a constant ratio between the shear stress on the interior and the exterior walls throughout the channel. Then, instead of the hydraulic diameter as in the standard Fanno expression, a new definition of an equivalent diameter is performed to consider the annular-shaped domain and the movement of the interior wall. The new equivalent diameter is always higher than the original used for Fanno flows (hydraulic one), even twice when the wall speed equals the mean speed. This effect leads to smaller pressure losses due to the movement of one of the walls and indicates that the wall movement is always beneficial. To validate the results obtained from the model, they are compared with an equivalent CFD simulation, leading to a maximum deviation of 5% on the Mach number and 7% on the total friction coefficient.

The hyperloop concept envisions a low pressure tube and capsules, called pods, traveling at the speed of commercial aircraft as a sustainable, future-proof mass transportation system between cities. However, in contrast to the use case of such a system, the detailed technical concept is still under development. One challenging difference in comparison to other modes of transportation lies in the technical concept of the infrastructure, which is hard to change in the long term and therefore allows a few iterations only. This study’s key contribution is to showcase the conceptual design decisions of the 24 m full-scale Hyperloop Demonstrator at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) for the propulsion and suspension system, featuring the design decision tree (DDT) method as a framework to visualize and explain the technical design decisions and dependencies of complex hardware systems. The construction of the full-scale demonstrator not only proved the feasibility of the concept but also provided valuable concept-level experiences, which are shared within this work. Compared to existing maglev and hyperloop concepts, the presented concept features a separated air-cored long stator propulsion system and a homopolar electromagnetic suspension at the bottom with the track wrapping around the vehicle, revealing promising advantages like the structural simplification of the infrastructure and the independence of the guideway and tube.

The Hyperloop system is promising a viable solution for fast, sustainable, and economic travel between cities. This paper investigates the challenging topic of Hyperloop aerodynamics via extensive numerical simulations. The study is divided based on the speed relative to the geometric Kantrowitz limit to manage the computational resources effectively. Below this limit, which marks the transition to choked flow, we conducted a cross-validation among an axisymmetric 2D model, a similar 3D geometry, and a realistic 3D geometry for blockage ratio 0.5 at several speeds. A definitive range for drag was determined, notably low absolute drag values were observed, and the 2D axisymmetric simplification was put into perspective. Above the choked flow condition, we undertook two resource-intensive simulations of the 2D setup, accelerating through several kilometers of tube. This methodology allowed us to shed light on the drag behavior that emerges under transient conditions. The existence of three regimes outlined by literature is corroborated by our study. Nevertheless, distinct variations emerge between the analyses, notably in the configuration of the shock wave structure, the linear increment of drag at a constant velocity, and the influence of the pod's acceleration profile in the flow structure. The study broadens the understanding of Hyperloop aerodynamics and offers realistic drag data for both choked and non-choked flow. • Drag was found to increase linearly at constant speed above choked flow. • A transient simulation setup is presented to analyze and visualize phenomena above choked flow. • The 2D axisymmetric simplification is put into perspective by comparison with a simulation using realistic 3D geometry. • The behavior of the first three aerodynamic regimes was confirmed and further described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we experimentally investigated the aerodynamic characteristics of the Hyperloop with branch tube, an important applicational situation. Experiments were performed considering two velocities (258.6 and 295.8 m/s) and five branched angles (θ = 30°–150°) using 8.75 cm of scaled pod model (blockage ratio = 0.34). The leading shock waves LSW 1 and LSW 2 generated in front of the pod model were measured, and their intensity was analyzed before, on, and after the branching. The intensity of LSW 1 and LSW 2 at the straight tube before branching was the same as that without branching. LSW 1 and LSW 2 were divided by branching and propagated to the branched tube, where their intensity decreased to branched shock waves BSW 1 and BSW 2 , respectively. The degree of decrease in BSW 1 was linear as θ increased, whereas BSW 2 decreased as θ and speed of the pod model increased when θ ≤ 90° and was nearly constant at 0.80 when θ ≥ 120°. The pressure characteristics near the branching were non-axisymmetric and became axisymmetric as it moved forward through the branching when x / l t ≥ 0.66. When LSW 1 and LSW 2 passed through the branching and were propagated as transmitted shock waves TSW 1 and TSW 2 after branching, their intensity decreased to approximately 86% and 91%, respectively, and was not significantly affected by the pod speed and θ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the air permeability of epoxy-coated normal concrete and ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) for use in Hyperloop tube structures, where maintaining ultra-low air permeability is crucial to preserving the vacuum environment. While UHPC is recognized for its exceptionally low permeability due to its dense microstructure, this research explores epoxy-coated conventional concrete as a cost-effective alternative. Using a vacuum-based permeability test simulating Hyperloop's near-vacuum conditions, the study found that epoxy-coated concrete significantly reduced air permeability compared to uncoated concrete, with specimens coated on both sides approaching near-zero permeability. Although UHPC exhibited superior performance, the epoxy-coated concrete demonstrated air-tightness and was suitable for Hyperloop applications, offering a viable and economical alternative. These findings provide important insights for material selection, suggesting that epoxy-coated conventional concrete can effectively meet the stringent requirements for Hyperloop tube construction while balancing performance with cost-efficiency., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

The pursuit of novel, environmentally friendly solutions for mobility and transportation has been a relevant area of technical and scientific progress in recent years. In this regard, the Hyperloop concept is a novel solution for sustainable transportation of people and goods at high speed. The electrodynamic levitation system in Hyperloop represents a key enabling technology. Nevertheless, its unstable nature is crucial and requires proper analysis and understanding. This paper proposes the experimental stabilization of electrodynamic maglev systems by means of passive components. A downscaled test setup is used to validate the numerical models that govern passive maglev systems. Setups for quasi-static and dynamic testing are proposed. The former experiments lead to model parameter tuning. The latter reproduce unstable behavior and assist in testing a stabilization method. Results in the time and frequency domains are used to analyze the system response and validate the proposed approach. • Electrodynamic levitation enables ultra-high-speed maglev transportation. • We propose a model to capture the instability of electrodynamic systems. • A test bench is developed to validate the proposed model. • Maglev stabilization is proposed and tested through experiments. • The numerical model matches the experiments in the frequency domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering making an efficient and sustainable ecosystem, the futuristic Hyperloop with Pod is considered a significant contributor in the coming years. However, the development and construction of the Hyperloop project is not easy. The research aims to analyze and evaluate the major factors involved in the success or failure of the Hyperloop project using the Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) approach and using (Matrice d'Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliquée á un Classement (cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification) MICMAC analysis. This method helped determine the inter-relationship among the factors and identify the key factors affecting the Hyperloop project. The work also explores the subfactors related to each major factor, which helps refine the major factors and understand their complex relationships. The research also includes data from a survey that was conducted to gather public opinion on the Hyperloop project. The survey questions were designed to collect information about factors such as user accessibility, experience, time, cost, convenience, and environmental impact. The collected data was analyzed to conclude public perception and acceptance, which is an important factor in determining the feasibility and viability of the Hyperloop project. The approach provided a holistic view of the project and helped identify potential issues that could arise during the Hyperloop project implementation phase. Geography of the proposed Mumbai-Pune Hyperloop route. [Display omitted] • Feasibility study of energy efficient Hyperloop system is conducted. • Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) approach is used for factor analyses. • Survey was conducted to gather public opinion on the hyperloop system. • Highlighted the challenges and opportunities associated with Hyperloop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]