Stability Analysis of Constant Speed Transit Vehicles On Straight,Horizontal, Fixed Guideways

SUMMARY

Several methods of motion stability analysis are examined and compared in the context of the problem posed by a simple idealization of a transit vehicle moving at constant speed on a straight, horizontal, fixed guideway, supported by idealized rubber tires, air cushion pads, or semiconical steel wheels on steel rails. Stability analysis methods examined include Liapunov analysis with the Hamiltonian and with a modified Hamiltonian proposed by Walker, and analysis of characteristic equations using theorems due to Routh, Hurwitz, Cronin, and Liénard and Chipart It is concluded that for rubber-tired and aircushioned vehicles a Liapunov analysis employing the Hamiltonian is most efficient, and for the tracked vehicle the criteria of Liénard and Chipart are most useful.