School of Energy, GeoScience, Infrastructure

and Environment
Institute for Infrastructure and Environment

MSc Title: Structural and Foundation Engineering

Session 2015-16

Course: Research Dissertation D21RZ

Course leader: Dr Mehreen Gul

Project title: Analysis of Realistic Roller-Coaster Structures

Supervisor: Dr. Joao Pombo

Project Background:
The definition of railway, tramway or roller coaster tracks requires the accurate
description of their geometries, which is usually done with the parameterisation of the
track ceterline. In this work, a methodology for the accurate description of the track
centerline geometry is used to define realistic roller-coaster geometries. Since the track
is time invariant, a pre-processor is used to define its spatial geometry. Then, the
dynamic analysis of rail guided vehicles is performed in order to obtain the reaction
forces imposed to the roller coaster structure by the running vehicles.

Project remit and methodology:

The main goal of this work is to use reaction forces and moments imposed to the roller
coaster by the running vehicles to perform the analysis of its structure using a finite
element methodology. Alternative and cost effective structures will be proposed and
assessed according to the design requirements defined in the standards and regulations.

1
Marking criteria:
The marking criteria involve:
 Research Aims and Objectives
 Literature Review
 Research Methods
 Data Analysis and Dynamic Analysis
 Conclusions and Recommendations
 Structure and Presentation

Special Instructions:
 Good knowledge of Finite Element Method is recommended.

Submission Requirements:
Semester 1 – 2 Page Research Proposal (Week 6)
– Interim (formative) report: (Week 12)

Semester 2 – Final (summative) report: (August 2016)

Some initial references:

Pombo, J. and Ambrósio, J., "Modelling Tracks for Roller Coaster Dynamics", Int. J.
Vehicle Design, 45(4), pp. 470-500, 2007.
Breeveld, B. J. S., “Modelling the Interaction between Structure and Soil for Shallow
Foundations - A Computational Modelling Approach”. BSc Thesis, Delft University of
Technology, 2013.
Birtish Standard, “Fairground and Amusement Park Machinery and Structures – Safety”,
UK Birtish Standard, 2011.
Engin Soft, “The Structural Design Of Roller Coasters” [Online], Available:
http://www.enginsoft.com/technologies/civil-engineering/structural-roller-
coasters.html (Accessed 18/11/2015).

The topic is suitable for which of the following MSc programmes?

SFE