Characterization of Structural Mechanics of Vacuum-Tube with Lab-Built Simulator:An Experimental Study

The experimental simulator was developed,mainly comprising a 3000 mm×1250 mm×1140 mm concrete tube,pumping-unit,generators of continuous/cyclic pressure and temperature loads,monitors/heaters/sensor/gauges and data acquisition/procession unit.The influence of the pressure and temperature loads,possibly produced by a fast running train in evacuated tube and varying in 1 atm~95 kPa and 30~60℃ ranges,respectively,on the structural mechanics properties of tube-wall was investigate with the simulator.The preliminary results show that the pressure and temperature loads all have a major impact.To be specific,an independent increase of temperature or an independent decrease of pressure linearly increased the stress of tube-wall; and the stress,originating from continuous and cyclic pressure loads and measured on the top/right/left sides,had U-shaped and V-shaped time-evolution curves,respectively.We suggest that the lab-built simulator be of much technological interest in development of vacuum tube transportation.