A ground effect train is a conceptualized alternative to a magnetic levitation (maglev) train. In both cases the objective is to prevent the vehicle from making contact with the ground. Whereas a maglev train accomplishes this through the use of magnetism, a ground effect train uses an air cushion; either in the manner of a hovercraft (as in

hovertrain A hovertrain is a type of high-speed train that replaces conventional steel wheels with hovercraft lift pads, and the conventional railway bed with a paved road-like surface, known as the ''track'' or ''guideway''. The concept aims to eliminat ...

s) or using the "

wing-in-ground-effect A ground-effect vehicle (GEV), also called a wing-in-ground-effect (WIG), ground-effect craft, wingship, flarecraft or ekranoplan (russian: экранопла́н – "screenglider"), is a vehicle that is able to move over the surface by gainin ...

" design.

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The advantages of a ground effect train over a maglev are lower cost due to simpler construction. Disadvantages include either constant input of energy to keep the train hovering (in the case of hovercraft-like vehicles) or the necessity to keep the vehicle moving for it to remain off the ground (in the case of wing-in-ground effect vehicles). Furthermore, these vehicles may be very drastically affected by wind, air

turbulence In fluid dynamics, turbulence or turbulent flow is fluid motion characterized by chaotic changes in pressure and flow velocity. It is in contrast to a laminar flow, which occurs when a fluid flows in parallel layers, with no disruption between ...

, and weather. Whereas the magnetic levitation train can be built to operate in a vacuum to minimise air resistance, the ground effect train must operate in an atmosphere in order for the air cushion to exist. Development work has been undertaken in several countries since the middle 20th century. No ground effect train has entered regular commercial service. Yusuke Sugahara and his team of researchers at

Tohoku University , or is a Japanese national university located in Sendai, Miyagi in the Tōhoku Region, Japan. It is informally referred to as . Established in 1907, it was the third Imperial University in Japan and among the first three Designated National ...

, in Sendai, Japan have developed the Aero-Train that uses wings attached to a fuselage to literally fly inches off the ground. Dubbed a “ground-effect vehicle” the train is designed to be completely powered by wind and solar energy — making this a true zero-carbon transportation system.

References

* Bastien, Stéphane, and Laframboise, M. Jacques (translation/adaptation
Aérotrain - The Aerotrain Story
Retrieved 7 January 2011. * Joseph Georg

Physics-edu (private) website. . Retrieved 7 January 2011. * Kikuchi Satoshi (Inst. Of Fluid Sci., Tohoku Univ.), Watanabe Hideo (Inst. Of Fluid Sci., Tohoku Univ.), Ota Fukuo (Inst. Of Fluid Sci., Tohoku Univ.), Kawahara Susumu (Inst. Of Fluid Sci., Tohoku Univ.), Kohama Yasuaki (Inst. Of Fluid Sci., Tohoku Univ.)
Dynamic Stability Control of Ground Effect Train
Nihon Kikai Gakkai Nenji Taikai Koen Ronbunshu, Japan, 2000, Vol.4, pp. 297–298, Journal Code:X0587B. (Japanese) * Shonner websit
Rohr Industries Aérotrain - The Rohr Aerotrain Tracked Air-Cushion Vehicle (TACV)
Shonner.com website. Retrieved 7 January 2011. * Sleath, M

ABC Science website. Retrieved 7 January 2011.

External links

- A Japanese prototype, also called "Flow around Ground Effect Transport System (FGETS)"
Rohr Industries Aérotrain

Aero-Train Video

{{Emerging technologies, transport=yes Emerging technologies de:Luftkissenbahn vi:Tàu đệm khí

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