Dynamics modeling of low-speed maglev vehicle system and simulation of its guidance mechanisms

Low-speed maglev vehicle structures and their kinematic relationship were analyzed, a 76-DOFs virtual prototype model with active levitation control was developed by SIMPACK software, the numerical simulation of guidance mechanisms was carried out based on the model, and the kinematic rules of T-shape arm and lateral skid platform and their relationship were studied. Aiming at 300 m-radius curve and three-bogies maglev vehicle, simulation result shows that the length of frontal T-shape arm of guidance mechanism should be greater than that of the rear one, and their optimum ratio ranges from 1.50 to 2.00 in order to obtain better curve negotiation performances of low-speed maglev vehicle; the yawing amplitude of head T-shape arm relative to carbody is almost equal to that of tail T-shape arm, while their directions are opposite, and the lateral displacement responses of corresponding skids have similar curves and approximate amplitudes; the amplitude ratio of the lateral displacement of frontal skid to rear skid in the same bogie equals the length ratio of corresponding T-shape arms.