Each year 300 million people ride roller coasters at amusement parks across the United States. Although they are meant for joy and entertainment, the design is very crucial and regulated. Understanding the interaction between components and humans can help create a more thrilling and safer ride. This study researched the design of the course and the structural supports. A unique roller coaster was designed, investigating the relationship between velocity and G forces. With the profile design complete, the corresponding forces resulting from the track and train weight and train movement were calculated to determine the required dimensions of the structural support columns. This work investigated the relationship between the features of the roller coaster and the material properties of the structural supports, determining which are most impactful for the loading conditions. These results can be used to determine the required properties of a roller coaster’s structural system to maximize the material usage to minimize resources and cost.

This thesis describes how to evaluate a first-order approximation of the vibration induced on a beam that is vertically curved and experiences a moving load of non-constant velocity. The curved beam is applicable in the example of a roller coaster. The present research in the field does not consider a curved beam nor can similar research be applied to such a beam. The complexity of the vibration of a curved beam lies primarily in the description of the variable magnitude of the moving load applied. Furthermore, this motion is also variable. This thesis will present how this beam will displace in response to the moving load. The model presented can be easily manipulated as it considers most variables to be functions of time or space. The model will be compared to existing research on linear beams to ensure the unique response of a curved beam.

The work presented in this thesis was undertaken to quantitatively determine the best place to sit on a roller coaster. Maximizing the time spent feeling weightless and the highest value of negative Z acceleration were used as criteria for the best seat. Acceleration values were measured on the California Screamin' roller coaster at Disney California Adventure Park using an iPhone and an application to record data from its accelerometers. After analyzing acceleration data, it was determined that the front row had the greatest negative acceleration in the z direction and was therefore the "best place" to sit.

Flykt i hög hastighet genom stadens raviner och klipplandskap, i en hängande berg-och-dalbanevagn med fötterna dinglande över stadslivet påverkas stadsuppfattningen av det visuella flödet. Hela tiden växlande g-krafter, ett lätt sommarregn och vinden i håret gör stadsupplevelsen fysisk på riktigt. Stockholms landmärken är välbekanta, där de glider i och ur synfältet, men ändå inte. Folk på marken tittar på dig, skrattar. Där! Visst var det din gamla fysiklärare i gathörnet? Borta! Projektet beskriver en berg-och-dalbana i Stockholms City. Banan förbinder Sergels Torg med Stureplan via loopar och svängar över tak, mellan hus, i gränder, över Kungsgatan och stannar till på ett par andra platser. Syftet är flerfaldigt; erbjuda en för storstäder unik typ av sightseeing, skapa möjlighet till den hisnande omedelbara glädjen som bara kan uppstå när kroppen utsätts för kontrollerade g-krafter, vara ett dekorativt slingrande fackverk med organiska stolpar i en hård stadsmiljö och frigöra de krafter som kan uppstå när människan möter staden på ett oväntat sätt. Som en del av projektet har ett flertal digitala verktyg utvecklats för att formge, analysera och simulera en rolig och njutbar berg-och-dalbanefärd. För generering av strukturens form, utifrån åkturens och stadens förutsättningar. För visualiseringar med planer, sektioner, animationer, bl.a. annat via kopplingar till karttjänster på internet. / Flying along the city canyons at high velocity, sitting in an inverted coaster car with feet dangling above the street life, the optical flow alters your visual perception of the city. Constantly changing g-forces, a light rain and the wind in your hair makes the city experience physical. The landmarks of Stockholm are recognized as they enter and exit your field of view, but they feel different. People look at you, laughing. There! Wasn’t that your old physics teacher at the street corner? Gone! The project describes a roller coaster in the CBD of Stockholm, Sweden. The circuit connects Sergels Torg with Stureplan, going through loops and turns, over roofs, between facades, into alleys, along Kungsgatan, making stops at a couple of other places. The purpose is manifold; to provide a unique type of city sightseeing, create an opportunity to experience the specific and immediate happiness that only an abundance of controlled g-forces can give you, to be a decorative, clinging and surprising space truss with organic steel pylons in an otherwise hard city environment, and to release the powers that can ignite, when people get to meet the city in unexpected ways. Part of the project has been the development of a digital toolset to design, analyse and simulate a fun and pleasant roller coaster ride, to generate the geometry of the space truss and pylons, based on the needs of the ride and the city, and to generate plan drawings, sections, animations and connections to geographic data services on the internet.

QC 20100702