Aerodynamic and shock wave investigation in hyperloop: Comparative analysis of maglev support configurations

The hyperloop's near-vacuum tubes and magnetic levitation hold immense promise for high-speed travel; however, ensuring system efficiency and passenger comfort require overcoming significant aerodynamic challenges. While many prior studies assumed an idealized, centrally aligned pod within a circular tube, real-world scenarios show that pods are rarely perfectly centered. The presence of maglev supports and structural elements further disturbs the flow field, creating a complex aerodynamic behavior. This study explores the aerodynamic and shock wave behaviors of hyperloop systems under different maglev support configurations using computational fluid dynamics simulations with the shear stress transport k–ω turbulence model. Three pod designs were analyzed: NoMagSup (without maglev support), WithMagSup (with maglev support), and WithMagSupFlat (with maglev support and a flat-bottom design) at speeds in the range of 100–300 m/s. The results show that the maglev supports significantly influence the drag, lift, and shock wave (SW) behavior. The WithMagSup model experienced the highest drag owing to the increased frontal pressure and turbulent airflow behind the pod. In contrast, the WithMagSupFlat model showed improved aerodynamic efficiency with lower drag and positive lift across all speeds. Additionally, maglev supports affected the formation and propagation of oblique and trailing SWs, impacting aeroacoustic noise and stability. However, the propagation speeds of the leading SWs, rear SWs, and expansion waves were minimally affected. These findings underscore the importance of the maglev support design in optimizing the aerodynamic performance, minimizing noise, and ensuring the stability of the hyperloop system.