HEAVE DYNAMICS OF FLEXIBLE-BASE FLUID SUSPENSIONS

The report presents the results of an analytical and experimental study of the heave dynamics of externally pressurized flexible base fluid suspensions operating over guideways containing either deterministic or random irregularities whose wave lengths are large compared to the suspension pad length. The effects of base flexibility and damping, but not of base mass, on the dynamic behavior of suspended vehicles are investigated and relationships are derived between the critical fluid and mechanical parameters which will maximize ride quality for a given vehicle and guideway characteristic. The suspension is modeled as a dynamic lead-lag spring and it is shown that for any value of lead time constant -- as determined by the vehicle weight and size -- there exists an optimum value for the lag time constant (or cushion volume) which minimizes the peak vertical vehicle acceleration. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Engineering Projects Laboratory
  Cambridge, MA  United States 
• Authors:
  • CAPTAIN, K M
  • Richardson, H H
• Publication Date: 1969-1-15

Media Info

• Pagination: 111 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerodynamics; Guideways; Intelligent transportation systems; Suspensions
• Old TRIS Terms: Advanced systems
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00039143
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Contract Numbers: DOT-C-85-65
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 24 1972 12:00AM