On the feasibility of the Hyperloop Concept

The Hyperloop is a ground-based transportation system proposed by Elon Musk in 2013 as a potential alternative to airplanes and high-speed rail. This thesis presents methods for first-order evaluation of design options for a Hyperloop system from technical and economic perspectives. The models are presented in generalized form so additional effects can be added by those with appropriate experience in the many different areas associated with long distance mass transport systems. The framework built in this thesis includes basic performance and cost analysis of the aerodynamics, levitation, propulsion, structure, and energy generation of a Hyperloop system. The first order models are intended to illustrate a process for investigating design trade-offs, but greater detail and domain specific expertise is needed to obtain realistic cost comparisons. The analysis culminates in a model to estimate the ticket cost for a Hyperloop route between any two cities, with many variables which can be input by the user to make conclusions about route feasibility.

Name thesis:degree_name

Bachelor

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2020

Author dc:creator

• Rana, Yaseem.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Alexander H. Slocum.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• MIT theses may be protected by copyright. Please reuse MIT thesis content according to the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy, which is available through the URL provided.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127876

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/127876