Dynamic Time-History Analysis of a Structure Subjected to Moving Loads with Variable Velocity, Magnitude, and Direction—Roller Coaster Design

Roller coasters are unique structures and there is little information available on its structural analysis methods. The problem is in the type of loads it needs to withstand—the loads produced by a train with passengers moving along a rail path of a complex trajectory. The paper describes the design process of a steel roller coaster starting with its trajectory analysis and determination of train velocity and g-forces via kinematic calculation. The data obtained from kinematic analysis is then used to determine track loads and load time-functions for time-history analysis. Subsequently, two types of the analyses are performed: 1st—static analysis for the series of independent load cases, 2nd—dynamic time-history analysis. The results of dynamic and static analyses for several variants of track sections are compared in order to assess the impact of dynamic effects on the structure.