Vibration test between Maglev vehicle and switching system

In 2013, Korea will become the world's second country to operate the urban Maglev system with the inauguration of demonstration line at Incheon International Airport. Prototype Maglev is under the test at KIMM's(Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials, Daejeon) track. This Maglev is a EMS(Elctromagnetic suspension)-type vehicle of controlled 8±3mm air gap. The air gap between electromagnet and guiderail in an EMS-type Maglev must be maintained within an allowable deviation by controlling the magnet. The air gap response is strongly dependent on the structural characteristics of the elevated guideway. For this reason, the interaction between vehicle with electromagnets and the elevated guideway must be understood to ensure safe running. This paper is focus on air gap response and guiderail vibration of switching system. The Maglev switching system usually has higher natural frequencies and low mass because it is made of steel structures. Through such results, the design requirements for Maglev vehicles and switching system can be established and levitation stability can be improved.