Research on Environmental Vibration Induced by High-Speed Maglev Transportation

Abstract

As a novel form of railway transportation, maglev transportation has the advantages of a better curve negotiation ability and grade ability and lower noise and vibration than traditional urban wheel–rail transportation. Thus, it is suitable for use in urban public transportation. However, the levitation of the widely utilized electromagnet suspension (EMS) system relies on continuously active suspension force adjustment, which gives it vehicle–track-coupled vibration characteristics different to those of the traditional wheel–track transportation system. Despite many research studies focusing on maglev vehicle–track coupling vibration, the environmental vibration influences associated with the running of maglev trains are still unclear. When the vibration propagates to the surroundings beyond certain thresholds, it may lead to various vibration serviceability problems. Practical test results on the environmental vibration induced by maglev transportation are still not enough to generate convincing vibration propagation and attenuation laws. In this research, a series of in situ tests were carried out around the Shanghai maglev line; the results show that the viaduct bridge is helpful in reducing environmental vibration, and an empirical formula was proposed to predict the effect of viaduct column height. Due to the ground wave superposition, a vibration-amplifying zone was also found about 10 m away from the maglev line, in which the vibration magnitude was strong enough to be perceived by the surrounding occupants.