Comparison of Track Topologies of Permanent Magnet Electrodynamic Suspensions

High-speed MAGLEV can rely on electrodynamic suspensions for their levitation. The track, the conductive part of the suspension where eddy currents take place, has a great influence on the forces generated in the system. Different track topologies, either discrete or continuous, have been explored so far, but not globally compared. The paper aims therefore to compare objectively continuous and discrete track topologies based on performance criteria such as the lift-to-drag and lift-to-weight ratios.