1. Aerodynamic performance of an electrodynamic suspension MagLev vehicle
- Author
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Jessica Wilt, Jason Tyll, Joseph Schetz, and James Marchman, III
- Subjects
Physics ,Lift coefficient ,Drag coefficient ,business.industry ,Drag ,Maglev ,Electrodynamic suspension ,Pitching moment ,Aerodynamics ,Aerospace engineering ,business ,Wind tunnel - Abstract
An experimental and computational investigation was conducted to better understand the aerodynamics of magnetically levitated (MagLev) high speed vehicles of the Electrodynamic Suspension (EDS) type operating in ground effect. A high speed moving track system, developed to be used in the Virginia Tech Stability wind tunnel, was modified to form a shallow trough track for EDS applications. Aerodynamic tests were conducted on a vehicle geometry representing a generic EDS vehicle with a bottom surface curved to match the curvature of the track system. The main data were force and moment measurements at a Reynolds number based on model width of 3.5 x 10. Boundary layer trips were used to cause transition at the proper location. Complementary tests were run with the curved-bottom model over a flat track and a flat-bottom model over a flat track for comparison. This data can be used to judge the necessity of curving the moving track for future wind tunnel testing. A supporting analysis to answer the same question was undertaken using the PMARC potential flow code. The main results of this part of the work were that drag is insensitive to the model/track arrangement but that lift and pitching moment are quite sensitive to the arrangement. The force and moment data obtained for the model with the curved bottom over a curved track simulating a real EDS arrangement can be compared with that obtained for an Electromagnetic Suspension (EMS) vehicle model in an earlier study at Virginia Tech. The drag coefficient was found to be quite comparable for the two designs at CD ~ 0.2. The CL for the EDS design was lower in magnitude and opposite in sign compared to the EMS design. The Cm for the EDS vehicle was bracketed between the values found for the two EMS vehicles studied. *Graduate Student, Student Member AIAA **J. Byron Maupin Professor, Fellow AIAA ***Professor, Associate Fellow AIAA Nomenclature CD Drag coefficient CL Lift coefficient Cm Moment coefficient c Maximum model width D Drag L Lift M Pitching moment S Maximum model cross-sectional area
- Published
- 1997