Reliability of New High Tech Roller Coasters

By: Topher Schott

DSES-6070 HV5 Statistical Methods for Reliability Engineering

Spring 2008 Professor Ernesto Gutierrez-Miravete

What could go wrong in a roller coaster?

Launch Track

Urethane Wheels

Sensors Magnets

Brake RunsLift Hill

Train

TrackInversion

Launch Track

Reliability of Launch Tracks

Hydraulic

Linear Induction Motor

“[Many new coasters] rarely

open during its first season”

“Many of these rides

ran reliably once the

kinks were worked out…”

Methodologies for Project

• Event Tree• Fault Tree• Monte Carlo Simulation• FMECA

Wind Weight Precipitation Momentum Will it fly? Availability speed momentum reqd7 1960 68 789800 1 1.000 150 4350008 1873 344 665961 1

18 246 18 554796 113 216 17 551293 145 2003 112 771719 111 1729 212 699563 1

8 213 53 541370 12 1073 141 637411 16 2589 175 832493 1

15 2620 97 870555 120 2779 115 883824 139 194 118 516862 114 287 42 554632 1

3 1040 79 653489 1- - - - -

Assumptions:

Wind/Weight/Precipitation Distribution

Momentum>435000 ft lb per second

Momentum negatively proportional to Wind/Precip

Goal;

Least “Maximum Speed” required?

Results

Speed Availability100 65%110 80%120 90%130 98%140 99%150 100%160 100%

Availability

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

110%

100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170

Speed Capability

Ava

ilab

ilit

y

The greater the maximum speed capabilities, the

better availability of the coaster!

Conclusion

• How do you make these go faster?

• What is a failure to the end customer?

• Complete FMECA used to prevent catastrophe