Maglevs magnetically levitated

A MAGLEV (magnetic levitation) train does not run along a track in the normal way. Instead, magnetic fields lift it above the track, so that the train floats along. 

MAGLEV Magnetic Levitating Trains REOs Rare Earth Oxides... 

Figure 7.2 shows a high-level fault tree for a maglev (magnetic levitation) train. The top event is as follows Train comes to a sudden stop. The next tier down states that if... 

FIGURE 21.15 An experimental magnetically levitated train (Maglev) in Japan is suspended above superconducting magnets that are cooled with liquid helium. This five-car train has attained a speed of 552 km/h in a manned vehicle run. 

Yet, recently there has been a renewed interest in rail alternatives—high-speed ones, of course, in keeping with the national preference. More specifically, the focus has centered on fast trains that would take advantage of developments in superconductivity and give us one of the most spectacular of all of its potential applications magnetically levitated trains, maglevs, that would literally fly between... 

In contrast to this kind of progress, however, the United States had by 1975 virtually abandoned research on magnetic levitation. That decision, made by the Office of Management and Budget, had been made on the belief that MAGLEV transportation would not be an economically feasible alternative in this country in the foreseeable future. 

Superconductors have been applied to develop train systems that operate with magnetic-levitation (MAGLEV) in which the train effectively travels sslOmm above its tracks, i.e. virtually frictionless motion. The first commercial train came into service in Shanghai in 2003 and can reach speeds of 440 km h. ... 

Ito, Shuichiro Daniel. Assuring Safety in High-Speed Magnetically Levitated (Maglev) Systems. Master s thesis, MIT, May 2008. 

FIGURE 7.2 Fault tree of sudden stop of maglev train. (From Dorer, R.M. and Hathaway, W.T., Safety of High Speed Magnetic Levitation Transportation Systems Preliminary Safety Review of the Transrapid Maglev System, DOT-VNTSC-FRA-90-3, U.S. Department of... 

Mixed systems of this type arise also when mechanical systems are influenced by non mechanical dynamic forces, like electro-magnetic forces in a magnetically levitated (maglev) vehicle. Also, multibody systems with additional control devices, hydraulic components etc. may result in such a mixed form. 

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