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Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Summer 2015
Source: MTA MetroNorth Facebook Page (Kawasaki M-8 at West Haven, CT station)
Student Sponsor: Daniel Delgado (Civil Engineering BS)
Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Nikodem Poplawski (PhD, Physics)
University of New Haven
300 Boston Post Road
West Haven, CT 06516
Table of Contents
Description of SURF …………………………………………………………………………..…………………………… PAGE 3
Personal Statement (Daniel Delgado) ………………………………………………………..…………………… PAGE 4
Personal Statement (Nikodem Poplawski) ………………………………………………..………….………… PAGE 5
Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………..…………….……… PAGE 6
Research Goal …………………….……………………………………………………………..…………………………… PAGE 6
Background …………………………………………………………………………………….………………..….………… PAGE 6
Rationale ……………………………………………………………………………………….……………………….……… PAGE 7
Focus ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…….…… PAGE 7 - 8
Methodology ……………………………………………………………………………………;……………….……… PAGE 8 - 9
Sample Curve ……………..……………………………………………………………………………………..…………… PAGE 9
Data Collection ………………………………………………………………………………………….……………….… PAGE 10
Wider Implications …………………………………………….……………………………………………….………… PAGE 10
References …………………………………………………………..………………………………………….…………… PAGE 11
Daniel Delgado
SURF 2015
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UNH Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program enables students to
conduct in-depth, hands-on research, working in collaboration with a faculty mentor. Since the
inception of the program in 2007, more than 130 students have been selected to participate.
Students selected for SURF will submit a research proposal, conduct their research over the
summer, submit a final paper and present their findings at a campus research symposium. The
SURF program welcomes applications from undergraduate students from all majors including
sciences and engineering, humanities and arts, education, criminal justice and forensic sciences,
and the social sciences.
Faculty Representatives
Carol Withers (Director)
Maxcy Hall 202
cwithers@newhaven.edu
(203) 932-7454
Janice Sanderson (Administrative Assistant to the Provosts)
Maxcy Hall 205
jsanderson@newhaven.edu
(203) 932-7095
Daniel Delgado
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Personal Statement: Daniel Delgado
I have an unmatched appreciation for MetroNorth’s New Haven line. I frequently
research its unique rolling stock, its intricate infrastructure, and its demanding operations.
Today, I attend school at the University of New Haven as a full-time on-campus student. I still
return to my original home in New Rochelle, NY often and typically travel to Grand Central
Terminal on a weekly basis. Its services are incredibly convenient and its 72-mile stretch of track
touches multiple personal points of interest. Unlike most others, I understand its operations, its
needs, and its future demands. I see it plagued by political corruption and fiscal irresponsibility,
yet somehow it manages to transport over 110,000 people daily.
Previously in 2013, I held an internship at the Maritime Aquarium in South Norwalk, CT.
I would like to note that I commuted daily on the New Haven Line between South Norwalk, CT
and New Rochelle, NY. During this year in particular, I saw the backbone of electric equipment
transition from M-2, M-4, and M-6 to M-8, as it continues towards its final stages today. Six
months into my internship, a highly advanced training project was approved and I was
prestigiously awarded the opportunity to lead the project. The project involved two harbor
seals, where the seals would be conditioned to differentiate and target different shapes upon
verbal command. The project involved data collection, constant modifications to procedures,
and a thorough analysis of the collected data. After four months of training, the seals exceeded
a 90% success rate. The aquarium recognized the research as “beyond graduate level” and
plans to present this research at future conventions. I am incredibly proud of this
accomplishment and hope to apply my experience in research towards improving a system I
hold close to my heart.
At the University of New Haven, I am a second year student with 67 earned credits as of
Spring 2015, placing me in the Junior Year classification. I declared a Civil Engineering major in
Fall 2013 and plan to declare a Sustainable Studies and Mechanical Engineering minor by the
conclusion of 2015. This year, I was hired as the Student Coordinator for a first year success
program that implements an entrepreneurial mindset within the engineering curriculum. The
Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN) sponsors the program, and it provides
funding to host monthly discussion dinners, biyearly engineering challenges, and various
resources that jumpstart curiosity within its student members. Additionally, I tutor first year
students in Calculus and first year engineering classes such as Intro to Engineering, Project
Planning & Development, and Methods of Engineering Analysis. On the weekends, I serve as
the Civil Engineering Student Ambassador and showcase the Tagliatela College of Engineering
to prospective students and their families.
My passion and ability to learn, adapt, and model systems, combined with the
partnership of Dr. Poplawski, a globally recognized Physics expert, and joined with the
cooperation of the railroad, will result in a valuable study that will predict the success of a
mechanical innovation. As the New Haven Line continues to soldier into the 21st century, I hope
one day to be a part of its team as a professional, practicing engineer.
Daniel Delgado
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Personal Statement: Nikodem Poplawski
Daniel Delgado is the most passionate student I have ever known. He is extremely
enthusiastic about engineering, science, mathematics, and learning. He has a strong passion for
railway transportation and electric motors. As a mentor, I want to enhance this passion by
developing a productive and fruitful intellectual partnership and engage him in discussions
about physics. My background and expertise in theoretical physics, including analytical
mechanics and electromagnetic field theory will provide him with a solid, theoretical basis of
this project. I will provide him with advice, guidance, resources, and analytical skills when
necessary, and will constantly and actively encourage his creativity.
During the first two weeks of Summer 2015, I will be meeting with Dan to review the
theoretical foundations of mechanics, focusing on the concepts from the linear and rotational
motion such as velocity, acceleration, force, torque, and power. I will guide him in constructing
theoretical models describing the dynamics of both traditional and linear motors, and review
with him differential equations, which will be used to analyze this dynamics. I will assist him in
collecting and checking the data during train trips, and guide him in formulating predictions
after the data are combined with our theoretical models. At later stages of the project, I will
guide Dan in analyzing the efficiency of the traditional and linear motors. I will be always
available to provide constructive feedback and discuss progress. Finally, I will help him in
writing a research paper and preparing a poster. After the poster presentation, I will encourage
Dan to give a talk about his research at UNH.
Nikodem Poplawski is interested in general relativity, analytical mechanics, and
classical/quantum field theory. His research focuses on how gravity with spin and torsion can
solve fundamental problems in cosmology. He proposed that torsion causes the formation of a
new universe through a big bounce in every black hole and that our Universe is the interior of a
black hole existing in another universe. National Geographic and Science magazines, among
their top ten discoveries of 2010 listed this scenario. Dr. Poplawski also appeared
in “Curiosity” on Discovery Channel, in an episode hosted by Morgan Freeman: “Parallel
Universes – Are They Real?” Recently Dr. Poplawski was featured on Forbes magazine.
More information about Dr. Poplawski can be found at
http://math.newhaven.edu/poplawski/
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Introduction
Mechanical innovations can modernize existing systems with minimal impact on existing
infrastructure and traditional operations. Currently, the rail network in the Northeast remains a
critical artery of the United States. Time is money on the railroad. In fact, when the flow of
transportation is interrupted, it begins to effect economic activity. Reliable acceleration is
critical to preventing the disruption of a train’s time. Frequently, they are burdened with speed
restrictions that disturb pace. When the seasons change, they are subject to chaotic wheel-slip
conditions that create dangerous stopping conditions. The right of way between Boston and
Washington DC spans 453 miles and its curves, existing infrastructure, and high traffic demands
constantly bounce the trains between high speeds and restrictive speeds. In consortium with its
hosting railroads, we want to determine the feasibility of optimizing the acceleration and
traction performance of its electric train with the application of linear motors.
Research Goal
Our research question is relatively simple: “Can linear motors optimize the performance
of electric trains operating on the Northeast Corridor?” We anticipate that linear technology
would be more efficient than existing technology in the Northeast. If true, then it could address
pressing economic need for more efficient motors to preserve the Northeast Corridor. If false,
we would still have worthy data for further analysis and development of the Northeast
Corridor. We recognize the value that this research project could deliver to the pursuit of
personal education, the University, and the practicing engineers of the Northeast Corridor.
Background
In a series of magnets, an applied current can create a linear force along the length of
the magnets, making a linear motor. If the magnets are arranged radially to create a disc, they
create the driving force for rotation known as torque. The KONE EcoDisc inspires our model. It
markets as a lineup of elevator solutions that operate with a compact rotational linear motor.
Headquartered in Finland, KONE engineers were inspired by Maglev trains and developed the
EcoDisc technology in 1996. Recognized for sustainability and remarkable performance, the
EcoDisc is a modern day engineering success and has successfully disrupted the market
competition in the elevator industry.
The talk of bringing linear motors to the rails is traced back to 1905. Inventor Alfred
Zehden describes an early example of feasible linear induction motors in US Patent 782312 for
driving railway trains. By further researching and collecting field data, we plan to model the
application of linear motor technology to railway trains running on the Northeast Corridor.
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Rationale
This project sheds light to a motor more efficient at accelerating, not the drastic and
expensive alteration of an existing system. Additionally, linear motors are recognized for their
mechanical simplicity, as they eliminate gearings and bearings. In fact, railcars can be designed
and manufactured in the same traditional methods; the difference in the specification is just in
the motor itself. Replacing a traditional motor with a revolutionary linear motor could
potentially increase the train’s acceleration performance, reduce its mechanical complexity,
and enhance the timeliness of the Northeast Corridor. We also believe that linear motors would
drastically improve the train’s traction control, which in turn would reduce the amount of
wheel-slip incidents, a true headache to the railroad. This study could make a 21 st century
transformation possible without astronomical cost to the cash-strapped line.
Focus
The Northeast Corridor is home to many kinds of electric trains. Three classes of electric
trains will be studied in this project. First we introduce the M-8 railcar, a multiple-unit, or “MU”
railcar. Built by Kawasaki, the M-8 features a 265 HP AC electric motor on each axle and puts
out 1060 horsepower (HP) per car.
Kawasaki M-8 Railcar (Source: Wikipedia)
Second is the ACS-64, an electric locomotive known colloquially as a “Sprinter” designed
for the push-pull operation of coach cars. The Sprinters debuted last year and sport a maximum
rated power of 8600 HP, which is capable of handling up to 18 coach cars.
Siemens ACS-64 “Sprinters” (Source: Amtrak)
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Third is the Acela trainset, built under a consortium between Bombardier and Alstom. It
features two power cars at either side of six semi-permanently coupled coach cars and travels
at sustained speeds of 150 MPH.
Rendering of Bombardier/Alstom Acela (Source: Amtrak)
The M-8 is operated by MetroNorth railroad between New Haven, CT and New York, NY,
while the Sprinters and Acela are operated by Amtrak between Boston, MA and Washington
DC.
Methodology
Experience in the field will allow us to understand the operation of existing propulsion
technology. Using our observation and data, we plan to model the efficiency of the current
technology to develop a hypothetical model of linear technology through fundamental
principles:
 Design
o The process of devising a system, component, or process to optimally convert
resources to meet a stated objective
o Applying linear motor technology to existing designs of Northeast electric trains
without modifying infrastructure
 Mathematical Modeling
o One or more mathematical relationships used to describe real world process or
phenomenon
o Mathematical tables and curves modeled on Excel using collected field data and
theory
 Optimization
o Use of mathematical model in conjunction with design to best solve the
objective while considering constraints.
o Respecting constraints, such as FRA standards, existing railroad specifications,
electrical infrastructure
We will analyze efficiency as a ratio of a total useful output to a total input. We will apply
our obtained parameters to the laws of physics in a series of calculations. The result is a
collection of curves that will predict the efficiency of a linear motor and authenticate our
Daniel Delgado
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model. We plan to apply the model to the three trains of focus, as their different specifications
require different approaches and may result in different outcomes. We hope for the
cooperation of the railroads so we can ride onboard with engineers, survey data, and observe
the function of the M-8, ACS-64, and Acela. System-wide, Amtrak and MetroNorth share
roughly 50 miles of track on the Northeast Corridor between New Haven and New Rochelle.
However, Amtrak diverts eastwards after New Rochelle while MetroNorth heads inland to join
its sister railroad, which operates on third rail. As a result, the M-8s run on both overhead wire
(AC current) and third rail (DC current), while the ACS-64 and Acela travel only through
overhead wire (AC). The difference in electrical configuration and infrastructure has been noted
and will be accounted for during modeling. Furthermore, we recognize the importance of
meeting the current FRA standards (Federal Railroad Administration) and designing around
existing railroad specifications. Our final results should determine if a linear motor could
efficiently accelerate a train.
Sample Curve
M-8 Railcar
15000.0
14000.0
13000.0
TRACTIVE EFFORT (LBF)
12000.0
11000.0
10000.0
9000.0
8000.0
7000.0
6000.0
5000.0
4000.0
3000.0
2000.0
1000.0
101
97
93
89
85
81
77
73
69
65
61
57
53
49
45
41
37
33
29
25
21
17
9
13
5
1
0.0
SPEED (MPH)
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Field Data Collection
In collaboration with MetroNorth and Amtrak, we need to meet with design engineers and
ride with operating engineers to collect the following parameters of trains for data analysis:
 Acceleration
o The derivative of velocity with respect to time
o The train’s physical ability to reach track speed from a restrictive speed or
station stop
 Velocity
o The derivative of distance with respect to time
o The train’s movement throughout the system
o Survey track speeds and limits to study traffic demand and flow
 Tractive Effort
o The exerting force of a locomotive on a drawbar
o The “pull”, or horizontal force component affected by adhesion, weight, power,
and track gradient
 Power
o The derivative of work with respect to time
o The train’s mechanical work output, measured in horsepower, as a result of
electrical consumption
 Electrical Demand
o The electrical consumption, and when braking production, of the electrical
motors
o Analysis of linear motor electrical consumption, production, and efficiency
 Traffic Flow
o The demand of maintaining track speed and the effect of speed restrictions
o Location of speed restrictions and choke points, caused by dangerous curves,
heavy traffic areas, interlocking rules, and station stops
Wider Implications
We can augment the performance of a critical piece of United States infrastructure with
little change to existing building procedures. As a result of increased efficiency, railways could
be made a staple of sustainable transportation. In fact, the developing high-speed rail network
in California could benefit from such a revolution in rail technology. Our research could be
published in collaboration with the FRA for future research and development.
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Background Research References
 http://blog.amtrak.com
 http://www.kone.us
 http://library.rpa.org/pdf/RPA-Getting-Back-on-Track.pdf
 http://www.danburybranchstudy.com/documents/TPC%20for%20Alternatives/T
PC%20Tech%20Memo_111810.pdf
 New Haven Railroad (Railroad Color History) Hardcover – February 28, 2003
by Peter E. Lynch
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