Intamin track types

[cornman]

Why does intamin use different track types? Like millenium force has box shaped track and maverick has triangle.

[Dan]

The different track types have to do with the forces exerted on the track at any given time. The boxed shape track can withstand greater forces than the triangle shaped track, which is why we see both types of track on some rides (such as Millennium Force). B&M solves the the problem by changing the depth of the track instead of the shape.

[cornman]

What do you mean changing the depth of the track?

[IntaminFan007]

Like:

4.0 gs for a quad rail
3.0 gs for a tri rail
2.0 gs for a double rail

This is just a representation of more forces=more rails. Also, you could have the force required for a quad rail with a double rail, just with more supports.

[Thrill Reconnoiter]

What do you mean changing the depth of the track?
Thickness of shape/amount of material used.

Here's a great example (look at the bottom of the camelback to the top apex):
http://www.rollercoasterpro.com/gallery/sfog/goliath/9.jpg

[chris]

Look at that! I never knew that. Thanks guys. Is this why Griffons track is so large?

[mayoki]

Look at that! I never knew that. Thanks guys. Is this why Griffons track is so large?

Because the trains are so wide. The wide track balances out the forces exerted by the wide trains.

[chris]

Oh, have you ridden it yet?

[cornman]

:eek: holy crap I can believe I never noticed that before!

[IntaminFan007]

I have never seen that either, but it actually makes sense (it is pretty much the same as Intamin does it)

[mayoki]

Oh, have you ridden it yet?

Yeah, I rode it in October, in the back row. Wicked. Even me being in FL, I have not been to BGA.:eek: So I was pretty surprised at how large the track was, but I knew almost immediately why... Hmm, common sense?:rolleyes:

[Michael]

What's also weird, when your riding Millennium Force, you never really notice the track change, despite how many times it alters on that ride :p

[Dan]

What's also weird, when your riding Millennium Force, you never really notice the track change, despite how many times it alters on that ride :p

Well, the rails you're riding never really changes, just what's right under it. It's the same reason you don't feel when support shapes change.

[Voyage100]

Like:

4.0 gs for a quad rail
3.0 gs for a tri rail
2.0 gs for a double rail

This is just a representation of more forces=more rails. Also, you could have the force required for a quad rail with a double rail, just with more supports.

I can guess how many g-forces do the rides have, if I see the shape of the track. That means Superman Ride Of Steel does not go over 4.0g's since quad rails are not used.

[Maxamillious]

^ I believe those measurements were only a rough estimate. I wouldn’t hold them to be completely accurate.

[Mike T]

The differences in track formation actually has a bigger relation to the cost of a ride, more-so than to where the forces are going to affect how the ride stresses. Obviously our box track is going to be the most stable of the three tracks, and it's mainly used on larger roller coasters as a substitute to a large amount of supports. Take a look at Millennium force and notice how on the first drop of 300 feet, theres only 5 supports holding it up. The relationship between the track's strength and the stability of the supports is synergistic, and compensates for those large gaps that you see between each support on that first hill. The bi-rail track has also been used on coasters, particularly on rides such as Superman Ride Of Steel at SFA. This is an example of when the cost of steel was higher than the cost of concrete. Notice how less steel is used on the track, the majority of the height of the supports is made up by the footings, and the frequency of the supports.

It goes to show how rides are designed these days, and the measures that manufacturers take these days to not only make the ride safe and secure, but to shave off some of that cost too.