ABSTRACT
Maglev trains provide a new option to address the future demand and challenges that are faced by land-based railway mass transport. In Chapter 5, the advantages and limitations of maglev are discussed by comparing maglev with the conventional railway from multiple perspectives. Classification and system characteristics of various maglev vehicles are summarised and presented as a tree map. Then, the research questions related to maglev vehicle dynamics running on flexible girders are introduced, including moving forces on flexible girders, the methodology for maglev vehicle dynamics analysis and levitation forces according to different levitation principles. Finally, Chapter 5 gives some modelling examples for simulations of maglev by using multibody system analysis software.
