LSM control of Maglev vehicle ride quality

The ride quality of a high speed repulsion type magnetically levitated vehicle using linear synchronous motor (LSM) propulsion has been studied. Vehicle motion is dependent upon the active LSM forces, the passive magnetic lift and drag forces, the aerodynamic drag force, and the technique employed for control. Derivations of the passive lift and drag forces and of the active heave and propulsion control forces are presented. For a balanced three phase LSM, it is shown that harmonic force pulsations disappear, except for the sixth harmonic and its multiples. A control technique which stabilizes the surge motion and provides needed damping in heave to guarantee acceptable ride quality has been simulated. Transient responses, for a vehicle traveling at 120 m/s show stable well damped motion. At this velocity, sixth harmonic effects are completely negligible. Stochastic results show that the heave motion power spectral density response to a moderately rough guideway, i.e., A = 1.34 × 10^-5m, more than satisfies the UMTA ride quality specification.