Discuss about the System Science and Engineering Management for Parramatta.
In this project, a proposal has been made for the design and development of a light rail system that will be an extension to the existing Inner West Light Rail (also called the L1 Dulwich- Hill Line. The new light rail system will serve the Parramatta region of Western Sydney and is aimed at improving transport in the system and reducing the rising traffic levels in Sydney. The light rail line will run from Carlingford through the central business district of Parramatta and on to Westmead via the Pennant Hills, a distance of 8.6 kilometers (the light rail will be 8.9 km though). This is a major project that will cause significant disruptions, but is ultimately aimed at improving transit times within the slated route and helping with redevelopment and regeneration of various regions along the light rail line. Having made the initial rail transport proposal for the Carlingford-Westmead light rail through Parramatta, this paper is a critical analysis of the proposed design and design concepts, along with a detailed analysis of the design for the light rail line. After this introduction, the paper will discuss at length the preliminary design, justifying the design cues used. The design will then actualized and in depth critical analysis of the detailed design and development of the light rail line. This will be followed by an analysis and discussion of the tests for the system, along with its evaluation and optimization of the design. The report will then end with a conclusion
The first area of design is for the track and how it will be laid out; this section will focus only on the design principles for the track and not delve into the materials used for laying the light rail track. In the preliminary design, it is proposed that a series of tangents (straight lines) or rail track be used where permissible, and be joined by arcs and curves in the light rail system. The light rail is aimed at ensuring high speed, but safe transport system (Jingjing, Changjiang & Ming 2013) (Vuchic, 2007). The concerns for the design include fast, safe and comfortable city transport, at an affordable cost; the main driver for the design is rapid transport. The light rail system is slated to have up to 15 stop overs along the way, which implies that a lot of time will be lost during scheduled stops along the light rail line. This therefore informs the need for the use of tangents as much as possible along the line. This will ensure that the light trains can achieve high speeds to enable rapid transit and achieve the goal of rapid transportation, while also compensating for the time inevitably lost during scheduled stopovers (Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Quade & Douglas, 2012).
The tangents will also ensure comfort and safety for the travelers. The curves and arches used to joining the tangents will enable continuity, but inevitably, are areas in which the light rail will lose speed and slow. However, the design principles require that the curves also enable sufficient speed while retaining safety and comfort features (Hoel, Garber &Sadek, 2011), (‘Mitre Corporation,’ 1996). The minimum curve radius for light rails and railway lines will be maintained along with light rail elevation so as to maintain safe speeds in the curves. The light rail vertical curves are informed by the envisaged safe speed and comfort, along with cost implications and the geographical conditions along the light rail path. Between the tangents and the main curves, transition curves will be incorporated into the design because curves should not suddenly become straight. Instead, transition curves will be incorporated so that there is a gradual increase in radii over time, for a distance of between 40 and 80 meters for lines where maximum speeds of 65 MPH are possible. The transitioning will also be done for elevations and super elevation sections (Laughton & Warne, 2003), (Hoel, Garber &Sadek, 2011).
The stop station lengths are designed based on the existing conditions, including availability of space and the population of the areas the light train will pass through. The desirable length is 75 feet; however, it is not possible however, to have all stations being of this length. Therefore, there will be a minimum station length, along with an absolute minimum length for the light rail line, with the minimum length being 60 feet and the absolute minimum being 45 feet. These have been used because of the need for a safe stop distance and based on an analysis of the specific conditions and the urban context of the light rail system (Hoel, Garber &Sadek, 2011). The allocation of the three station length parameters are informed by the following;
Design considerations are made for pedestrian access and the state of the light rail routes, Vis a Vis pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The station length is also designed based on the platform length and the concourse size.
The basic design principles will be observed, starting with the curves and tangents where the minimum radii and transitions curves as well as elevations and vertical curve requirements will be observed. The curves joining the light rail tangents are legislated by the rolling stock’s mechanical ability to adjust to the light rail track curvature. The guidelines for the minimum radii of curvature will be governed by the North American standard of minimum radii of 125 meters. However, this will be determined by the prevailing conditions so that the light trains can maintain a speed above 24 km/hr. The proposed light rail is envisaged to operate a top speed of 65 miles per hour (MPH) where this is possible; the train will have an average weight of 54 tons. The force that trains exert on the tracks changes when negotiating curves. For this reason, the design incorporates vertical curves of the light rail line so that the crest curves are not too tight as if this happens; the train may derail from the track as the track drops beneath it (Sheppard 2015). If the trough is too tight as well, the train can plough downwards into the rails, causing damage/ and or an accident. The vertical curves are therefore designed based on the supporting force principles. The support force [R] the train exerts on the track as a function of its mass [m], radius [r], and speed [v] is governed by the relation;
R = mg +- mv2/r
The + is for troughs and the – for crests. To ensure passenger comfort, the g (the gravitational acceleration) as a ratio to the v2/r, the centripetal acceleration must be kept as small as is possible to ensure passengers don’t feel ‘large weight changes’ (Abe 2004).
A prototype system will be tested with a small electric train on a small section of the light rail line after it is put in place. Heavy gauge steel will be used for the train lines and tested for safety during operation and hazards.
The simulation and other tests and technical assessments based on the design will then be evaluated and adjustments made based on simulation software performance. Adjustments and optimizations will then be undertaken using the design software and design parameters, along with performance based on the simulations. The PLM software will provide near real life simulations for accurate test results. The tests will entail testing of the light rail track, starting from weight and force exerted by the vehicle tests. These will conform to the general and detailed design principles discussed earlier along with performance under different conditions based on the rail design (Madsen & Madsen 2017). Special attention will be placed on cornering and speed, as well as vertical curves performance where forces will be measured with respect to the safety and comfort thresholds. This testing phase is crucial in ensuring that the light rail system conforms to existing safety standards and technical requirements and is designed in such a way that future advancements in vehicle design will not require changing the light rail tracks.
Evaluation will look closely at external factors, including existing traffic patterns on the proposed light rail track, its elevation, along with pedestrian traffic and existing facilities and assets such as power and other utility lines.
Conclusion
A proposal has been made for the construction of a light rail system between Carlingford and Westmead through Parramatta that will have up to 15 stops. The design and detailed design are guided by safety operating principles along with technical requirements and the constraints of time, money, and resources. The proposed general design is to have as many tangents as possible and where inevitable, curves and arches are used the radii and safe turning principles followed. Connecting every curve and tangent will be a transition curve that will also be employed in vertical elevation design. The relation between speed, curve, weight, and force will be used to design the curves and arches. Minimum and absolute minimum requirements for stopping and station designs are to be incorporated. Technical requirements based on the Australia Light Rail Regulated Electrical Utility Network Code of 2016 will be strictly observed and the design tested in a simulated environment using PLM, before adjustments made. A test section will be built and further tests done, before a final design for the whole length of the rail line is made and relevant certifications sought. It is recommended that this project gets a green light and proceeds to the next phase of design and simulation testing
References
Abe, M. (2004). The dynamics of vehicles on roads and on tracks: proceedings of the 18th IAVSD symposium held in Kanagawa, Japan, August 24 – 30, 2003. London, Taylor & Francis.
Corbel, S. (2016). Utilities (Technical Regulation) (Regulated Utility Coordination Code) Approval 2016. [ebook] Sydney: Australian Capital Territory, pp.2-7. Available at: https://www.legislation.act.gov.au/di/2016-18/current/pdf/2016-18.pdf [Accessed 30 Sep. 2017].
Hoel, L. A., Garber, N. J., & Sadek, A. W. (2011). Transportation infrastructure engineering: a multimodal integration. Stamford, Cengage Learning.
Jingjing, C., Changjiang, Z., & Ming, Y. (2013). Research on Rail Transit Network System and its Connection Model in the Metropolitan Area. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences. 96, 1286-1292.
Laughton, M. A., & Warne, D. F. (2003). Electrical engineer’s reference book. Oxford [England], Newnes.
Madsen, D. A., & Madsen, D. P. (2017). Engineering drawing & design. Australia : Cengage Learning
Mahdjoubi, L., Brebbia, C., & Laing, R. (2015). Building Information Modelling (BIM) in design, construction and operations First International Conference on Building Information Modelling (BIM) in design, construction and operations.WIT transactions on the built environmentv149
‘Mitre Corporation’. (1996). Intelligent transportation infrastructure benefits: expected and experienced. Washington, DC, U.S. Dept. of Transportation.
Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Quade & Douglas. (2012). Track design handbook for light rail transit. Washington, D.C., Transportation Research Board.
Sheppard, M. (2015). Essentials of urban design. Clayton, Vic. CSIRO Publishing
Vuchic, V. R. (2007). Urban transit systems and technology. Hoboken, N.J., John Wiley & Sons. https://app.knovel.com/hotlink/toc/id:kpTDHLRTEL/track-design-handbook.
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