Diffent Track Types

Why are there three different track types? They have flat(end of the coaster), triangular(into the turns), and square(on the lift). Is this because triangular twists easier than square, and flat costs less than the others.

The square, if you notice, is on all the hills on the track... You can see it in the webcam...

Plus the triangular is easier to mount at a 120 degree angle than square track. The flat doesn't get the loads and gforces hitting it that the rest of the track does so standard flat track is sufficient there.

I'm no engineer, but I would tend to guess that the square sections are more rigid, and used where they have to span longer distances between supports (like the large hills). It is apparently not an issue of force, because the valley of the first drop is triangular track.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point

i AM an engineer :) (mechanical) and your observation about the square sections being more rigid are correct (more cross bracing).

On a related note, Superman:ROS at Darien Lake, the first Intamin hypercoaster, uses triangular track on the hills but flat track on the rest of the ride, including the helices and bunny hops.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point

I think i am right about Triangles being the strongest shape, triangle can with stand the most weight and the most force.

But the square track has more smaller triangles in it than the Trangular shaped track *** This post was edited by Bob Dole on 2/1/00. ***

Basically, it comes down to load distribution - assuming all trusses are equal in cross-sectional area, more is better.

The three-rail (triangle) track is used in areas that have more supports, and therefore don't need to be as rigid. The square stuff is placed in areas that have a great distance between support points, namely the lift, the over-banked turns and the lagoon cross-overs.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point