Dynamic Stability Analysis of High-speed Maglev Vehicle-guideway Systems in Turbulent Crosswinds

Ensuring the operational stability of high-speed maglev trains traveling on guideway girders under varying crosswind conditions is critical for the safety and reliability of maglev transportation systems. However, practical methods for determining safe operating speed limits in turbulent wind environments remain limited. This study presents a computational framework for evaluating the safety speed limits of maglev vehicle-guideway systems subjected to unsteady crosswinds. A fully coupled dynamic model incorporating aerodynamic loads, vehicle dynamics, and guideway responses is developed and validated using field test data. Comprehensive numerical simulations are conducted over a wide range of wind conditions and train speeds, with emphasis on ride comfort, suspension gap variations, and guideway behavior. The results indicate that unsteady crosswinds induce significant vertical vehicle vibrations and pronounced suspension gap fluctuations due to aerodynamic lift effects, while the guideway remains structurally stable. The safe operating envelope is primarily governed by vehicle vibration levels and suspension gap constraints and narrows with increasing wind intensity. This framework provides a systematic basis for assessing operational stability and establishing safe speed limits for maglev systems in windy environments.