This week, we thought of more ideas that the new track and support system could look like. Upon meeting with Ron, we brainstormed some questions to ask to our contact in South Africa. Ron will update us when he returns from his Europe trip in a couple weeks. We also obtained several drawings from our contact which are not yet revealed for public use.
The first task we need to deal with is preventing track collapse should a column be hit by a vehicle. Here are some possible prevention tactics:
1. Build concrete around the pillars
2. Build a square frame around the pillars
3. More warning signs around track
4. Slopes so that final impact by a car would be slowed and forces brought upwards
5. Build the beams into a building instead on roads
6. Let the affected beam break, have weight supported by other beams
7. Air bags around beams
8. Memory foam type material around beams
Our ultimate decision, after researching impact attenuators and utility poles, is to wrap the columns with some kind of foam material. Possibilities are ethafoam or HR Polyurethane. The soft material could be protected and held in place by aluminum or some type of covering.
For this upcoming week, each of us will design a possible prototype for the new support posts, footing, beams, etc. We'll assume the bogey design isn't changing while changing the rest of the guideway design. We will then collaborate to see which aspects of each design we like.
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