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Another film from the series "String Transport Systems: on Earth and in Space", in which we talk about the scientific monograph of the scientist and inventor Anatoly Yunitskiy.

The second chapter describes the rolling stock, SkyWay construction technology and provides a technical and economic comparison of various transportation systems.

Translation of the video:

Anatoly Yunitskiy
String Transport Systems: on Earth and in Space
Part 1
String Transport System
Chapter 2, Part 2
STS design versions

Today we continue the story about the 2^nd chapter of the monograph by Anatoly Yunitskiy "String Transport Systems: on Earth and in Space", which deals with the design features of different types of string transport. The second part of the chapter reads about the rolling stock, SkyWay construction technology and provides a technical and economic comparison of various transportation systems.

The rolling stock movement on the track structure is carried out by means of wheels used to collect current and supply electric power to the drive. The driving unit of the rolling stock can be made in the following versions:

а) rotation motor transmitting rotation to at least one wheel, for example: rotor electric motor, internal combustion engine and the like;
b) electric or other motor-wheel;
c) linear electric motor;
d) propeller receiving rotation from an electric or other motor;
e) gas turbine.

It is evident from the above classification that only one type of driving unit may be completely electric - the linear electric motor. In all other cases, non-electric drive is possible, the use of which will be determined based on environmental, economic and other considerations. For example, in undeveloped or underdeveloped areas (deserts, tundra, taiga, permafrost, mountain ranges, etc.). In some cases, it is economically more reasonable to use transport modules with an internal combustion engine.

Depending on the shape of the hull - symmetrical (for bilateral motion) and asymmetric (one-way traffic) - different configuration of rolling stock wheels is possible. At high speeds (over 300 km/h) the major energy loss in the string transport will be determined by aerodynamics, i.e. the aerodynamic perfection of the hull shape of the transport module. This can easily be achieved, since the hull has no protruding parts, except for narrow wheels. To reduce the weight of the wheel and exclude the passage of wheel pair axle through the interior of the carriage, each wheel has independent suspension and two flanges securing the position of the wheel on the rail. During high-speed motion of a vehicle, it is very important to reduce dynamic loads caused by microroughnesses of the track and its fluctuations. For this purpose, the wheel can be made composite and the rim or flanges in it have the opportunity of lateral shifting relatively to the rail. The wheel can also have a design with one flange or without flanges, as it is done now and demonstrated in EcoTechnoPark.

As we have explained in the first release, the power supply to rolling stock is carried out through the contact "wheel - rail". It will be efficient even at high speeds, because it is not sliding and quite a high contact force will press the wheel to the rail in the contact spot.

Next, the second chapter describes in detail the STS construction technology.

A prefabricated string is stretched with the help of technological equipment to the set value and its ends are attached stiffly to anchor supports. Intermediate supports are installed preliminary or in the process of tensioning the string, or after tensioning. The string is stretched either together with an insulating jacket, or sequentially by one or more elements of the string.

During the implementation of targeted projects, after installing the intermediate supports and the string tensioning, there will be a launch of a technological platform along them, which is able to move independently and fix its position firmly relatively to supports. With its help, span after span, the hollow tube of the rail will be installed, fixed in a designed position and filled with a special concrete mix. Then, if necessary, they will add a railhead, cross-bars and do other work required for the arrangement of the track structure. All these works are easily mechanized and automated and can be run around the clock at any weather. This would ensure a high speed of straight-line construction of a SkyWay route, its low labor intensity and prime cost. To remove the microroughnesses and microwaviness at work surfaces of the mounted railhead and its transverse backlash-free joints it is possible to grind them along the entire length of the transport system. STS construction can also be carried out using a special building multi-purpose machine, when a string and other pre-stressing elements of the rail are tensioned not on the anchor support, but on the multi-purpose machine. Moving along the route using walking support-feet, the machine will leave behind assembled intermediate supports with ready rail structure, which will firmly connect them with anchor supports on reaching them.

The end of the 2^nd chapter provides a detailed technical and economic comparison of various transport systems proving the superiority of SkyWay technology over all existing and promising developments making the project very attractive for investors and also for those countries and companies that will develop and implement the project.