Modeling of the dynamics of a superconducting maglev in the mixed state

We studied the levitation of a YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO) melt-textured superconducting specimen above a closed path of permanent magnets. The superconductor was magnetized with an auxiliary permanent magnet before brought to the path of magnets. This way, the superconducting levitation in the mixed state was achieved. The vertical and horizontal forces acting on the superconductor were calculated by means of two models. One model considers that the superconductor is in the Meissner state and assumes that it is possible to take into account the demagnetizing field by using a single average parameter. The second model considers that the superconductor with trapped field behaves as a permanent magnet with a uniform magnetization. The total force on the superconductor in the mixed state is result of the superposition of these two contributions. In order to validate the model, the height of levitation and the frequency of horizontal oscillations were measured. Both variables were then calculated with the model fed with experimental information. The calculated values were in agreement with the measured ones.

Automated summary

The study focused on levitating a YBCO superconducting specimen using a closed path of permanent magnets. Two models were used to calculate the forces acting on the superconductor, with experimental results validating the calculated values.