In fixed guideway transit with established station stops, the propulsion energy can be reduced by grading the guideway downward on leaving the station (using gravity to assist in the acceleration) and grading upward on arrival at the next station (again using gravity, but this time to assist in the braking). A computerized conceptual cost model has been developed incorporating parameters relating to required elevated structures and required dynamical considerations. The increase in total cost required to construct a station stop at a given elevation above the guideway level between stops is calculated by the computer program to be compared with the resultant decrease in energy consumed in acceleration and deceleration. Because today's costs are extremely uncertain, unit costs are input by the user to determine the increased construction and operating costs and the resultant energy savings. The program outputs suggestions for structural design and associated cost data.


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    Title :

    Gravity Assisted Mass Transit


    Contributors:
    A. Z. Kovacs (author) / G. B. Shaw (author) / R. F. Weiss (author) / J. K. Nelson (author)

    Publication date :

    1975


    Size :

    120 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English





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