A6_2 Safety Concerns over Hyperloop

Abstract

The Hyperloop is a proposal for a new transportation method, involving pods travelling down evacuated tubes in order to decrease journey times and improve eciency. This paper explores the potential safety concerns over the system including the sudden increase in air pressure in the tube in an emergency, and also thermal expansion of the tube. It is found that the temperature difference required to cause signicant damage is over 236K, and that the deceleration due to a sudden increase in air pressure is 5g, a safe value.