Theory of electrodynamic levitation with a continuous sheet track — Part I

Exact analytical expressions for forces on moving rectangular current-carrying coils above and below an infinite conducting sheet track of arbitrary thickness are developed. These general expressions for the lift and drag forces acting on the excitation coils as functions of speed are investigated for normal flux, null flux and brake flux systems and discussed with the aid of numerical calculations. A concise parameter study is also made. The system velocity characteristics with constant load (technologically more relevant) are given for the first time for normal and null flux systems.