World’s fastest railway tested by HBM
An advanced high-speed magnetic levitation train track is being tested with the help of HBM measuring equipment.
Transrapid, based in Germany, is developing magnetic levitation trains for several passenger-carrying projects in Germany and China. Instead of wheels and rails, the Transrapid train uses non-contact electromagnetic levitation. Magnets mounted on the train repel against magnets mounted on a guideway, producing levitation and propulsion.
The company has its test facility in the town of Lathen, located in Emsland, northern Germany, where the latest versions of the train have run at speeds of up to 450 km/h. Several types of track have been tested at the facility, including both concrete and steel versions. The latest is a hybrid of concrete and steel. The 62 m long, double span beam weighs approximately 350 tonnes and has a pre-stressed, post-tensioned, reinforced concrete body and bolted-on, steel cantilever areas acting as the functional surfaces. Concrete provides low noise and good vibrational damping, while steel is used to provide accurate spacing between the vehicle and the guideway.
Industrieanlagen-Betriebs-Gesellschaft mbH (IABG), runs the test track on behalf of Transrapid and tested the new track sections. Willi Nieters of IABG says: “We have used HBM equipment since the start of development work at the test facility and have found it to be very good.”
IABG also chose HBM because it could get all the measuring equipment it needed from one supplier. Another factor was that HBM measuring systems are modular and flexible, allowing components to be added easily to take account of changing needs. The high reliability of HBM equipment was another reason for IABG’s decision.
“For testing, we use the 200 channel HBM MGCplus, strain gages, displacement transducers, acceleration transducers and catman® software.
“The first tests were undertaken while the girder was being made, when the concrete was in hardening phase. After that, we took extensive measurements while commissioning and verifying the design loads on site.
“About 70% of all the measurements were done with strain gages, inside the concrete structure at the reinforcing steel and outside at the girder. Measurements of displacements and vibrations were also performed.”
