Multifaceted stability behaviour of a HYperloop vehicle at high SPEED

With a target speed of 1000 km/h, Hyperloop holds the promise of being a fast, clean and energy efficient mode of transportation. The speed is unprecedented for ground-borne transport; the magnetically suspended Hyperloop vehicle offers travelers the speed of an aircraft combined with the convenience of a train. It can carry time-sensitive goods as well, providing a sustainable alternative to airfreight. The understanding and control of the interaction between the vehicle and the surrounding environment (magnetic suspension, infrastructure, air) is fundamental to the technical feasibility of Hyperloop and will be thoroughly addressed in this project. More specifically, the project will examine the vibration of the vehicle while travelling at very high speeds through a tube, to guarantee safety and comfort. Three forces the magnetic interaction force, the aeroelastic force and the reaction force delivered by the supporting infrastructure act simultaneously and may destabilize the vehicle vibration through complex nonlinear interactions, creating a multifaceted stability problem. This project will investigate the multifaceted stability behavior in depth to gain understanding regarding the interplay of the destabilizing forces (which becomes particularly pronounced at the very high speeds envisioned), to evaluate the suitability of the state-of-art control (stabilization) measures, and to devise an improved, optimal controller. The project comprises model development as well as experimental validation, which will be done during a non-academic placement at Hardt Hyperloop. Access will be given to the European Hyperloop Centre, a unique 2.6 km long test facility which enables testing at high speeds. Results of this project will be very relevant for the design of the Hyperloop suspension and infrastructure, for magnetically levitated train systems, as well as for high-speed rail. The results will also advance the scientific field of nonlinear dynamics in general.