Wibbly Wobbly TTD - CoasterBuzz

Has anyone else noticed how wobbly TTD is? I was riding with Steve - sorry mate, I've forgotton your CB moniker - and he pointed out that the curved track leading up to and down from the tower was swaying a good six inches from side-to-side. It was clearly visible from the station - even without my glasses!

Later, in the line for Magnum, we observed some interesting torsional oscillations of the main tower. These were particularly evident when the two vertical tracks were in the same sight-line. The amount of twisting was not constant - sometimes the twists were large, then they died away before increasing in size again (the mechanical equivalent of beats, for those physics majors out there).

Presumably Intamin has designed the tower and track to do this. Not having seen Xlerator in action, is this similar to the wobbles reported down at KBF?

I've not yet noticed Dragster's tower swaying, though I have seen the pull-in movement. I've only seen Xcelerator pre-reinforcement, but it's tower moved *noticeably*; to the point that people in line point to it in concern as they do on Wicked Twister.

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http://www.eecs.umich.edu/~bnoble/

I would not worry about it. While I have not made the trip out to the point to ride dragster, I would garauntee that any swaying in the ride is part of the design. While it most likely doesn't sway nearly as much as its californian cousin, or even as much as Wicked Twister across the park, almost every coaster that I can think of has at least *some* degree of sway to it. Some, such as woodies or intamins, sway more than others, some, such as Beemers, hardly at all, but no ride is absolutely brittle.

-BB

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KennyKon '03 - Be There

Skyscrapers sway all the time (and there suppose to and its a good thing). V2 sways all the time. When theres hardly any wind it sways. But it hasnt collapsed when theres 40-50 mph winds. Dont worry about it. Do you think Intamin would design a ride that would collapse when wingds are moving 10 mph on a regular day? Its probably better for them to sway than stay completely straight. It probably causes strucural problems. Thats my opinion.

The swaying is good. All tall things sway, otherwise the structure would break, crack and all that bad stuff. I know for sure the Eiffel Tower at PKD sways, you can see it, but you can't feel it. I'm sure Drop Zone sways big time. Even HyperSonic has a little bit of a motion in it. So as long as its 6 inches, and not 6 feet, there is nothing to worry about.

Honestly, I was curious about the amount of swaying myself. However, I didn't notice any sway at all when waiting in line after a train was launched. I wouldn't worry about it too much though, it's supposed to sway a little. That thing looks so well-supported too.

Now if it was just a better ride...

Justin "I like Xcelerator better" Adams

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Don't put anyone on a pedestal, because then people will point and laugh at them.

Do you think Intamin would design a ride that would collapse when wingds are moving 10 mph on a regular day?

SFGAMan, they didn't intend the V. Narrows bridge in WA to collapse ;)

But seriously, modern wind dynamics are fairly well known. I doubt there's reason to be concerned.

Millennium Force sways also. Look at the track right after the tunnel before the third hill. It has a nice sway to it after the train passes. That kind of movement is perfectly normal.

Xcelerator continues to sway after the reinforcing, but I never actually saw it sway before that, so I can't say how much. It's still easily noticeable after a train passes over though.

I actually noticed that SFMM's S:TE sways after a run too, I had never noticed that up until a couple of days ago. It's hard to see, but if you line your sight up with a stationary object, it's definitely noticeable.

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YOUNGSTOWN 2010

Well I think anything tall sways. The Gateway Arch sways about 6" both ways most of the time. It has been reported to go up to 12" if not more on windier days (and they don't have tours on those days). So I guess it's a good thing.

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SW:):)SH
midwestinfoguide.com

well they build them to sway. the st. louis arch, when i went up in it, they told us it sways up to 18 inches, and that if it didn't, it would snap. much worse! heh. so yeah, they build a certain amount of sway into the structure intentionally.

I would like to have your unaided vision, Rob. Being able to see a structure 400 ft.+ high sway to an exact amount is a gift. Congrats.

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2002/2003
KWTM

BBSpeed26 said:
... Some, such as woodies or intamins, sway more than others, some, such as Beemers, hardly at all, but no ride is absolutely brittle.
-BB
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KennyKon '03 - Be There

Have you ever seen Iron Wolf? That turn over the station catches my attention every time.

If it doesnt sway, it's gonna break. Jus my 2 cents

If you bend a pencil, it will snap. If you bend it a long skinny rubber eraser, it will simply bend. The track is like the eraser, and it can snap if it's too stiff.

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Jab uf mo yo ha an ams isid da vee eh col ah al ti

Someone mentioned the St. Louis Arch....It sure feels like it's swaying much more than just a foot or two. :>)

I always get a kick out of people waiting in line for the Legend. One of the last turns goes right by the station, so close that you can put your hand on it. Some people are blown away by how the structure shakes when a train flies by.

--Ryan

Edit: Can someone let me know if that smilie is showing up as a Smiling Dude or a Winking Dude?
*** This post was edited by Legend_n_Raven 6/10/2003 9:56:28 PM ***

Strijder said:
SFGAMan, they didn't intend the V. Narrows bridge in WA to collapse ;)
But seriously, modern wind dynamics are fairly well known. I doubt there's reason to be concerned.

It was the Tacoma Narrows bridge. ;)

But I wouldn't lose sleep over it, folks.

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

The only time I've seen it sway was when the brake fins shoot up after the train launches...and it dosn't appear to be that much.

Strijder said:
Do you think Intamin would design a ride that would collapse when wingds are moving 10 mph on a regular day?
SFGAMan, they didn't intend the V. Narrows bridge in WA to collapse ;)
But seriously, modern wind dynamics are fairly well known. I doubt there's reason to be concerned.

And, in events closer to "home" do you think S&S designed their tower ride @ CP to collapse in high winds?

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Warning: I do not think like the average person. My remarks have plenty of thought behind them. Take it for what it's worth, if you disagree, please, feel free to express it, but don't put me down because of it.