by Amer Numan

Created on: April 13, 2009   Last Updated: April 14, 2009

Roller coaster design is one of today's most exciting and advanced fields - it can be easily categorized as an art. A college friend of mine actually got into the industry after obtaining her architecture & design degree, and the things I hear about her job are quite incredible. The main stages of contemporary roller coaster design are:

CONCEPT

A team is assembled to work on the new roller coaster, and includes people from all areas of the company, including financial experts, marketing personnel, designers, artists, and architects or engineers. The initial meeting is usually to brainstorm the type of coaster it will be, which is usually determined by how riders actually ride it (sitting up in a regular train of cars, in separate vehicles, laying forward, standing up, floor less, etc.). Another important element is the theme of the ride (a super hero on a mission, a fast car ride, rocket, villain from a movie etc.) as well as the nature of the track (loops, forward/backward motion, upward tracks hanging the coaster down versus regular train-style tracks).

LAUNCH PROCEDURE

The way a roller coaster ride starts is one of the most discussed elements in building it. Some coasters rely on a heavy-duty steel belt that latches on the train to bring it to a certain height before letting it launch under its own weight down a slope. Some rely on a propulsion mechanism at the beginning of the ride that bring it to top speed via a catapult mechanism that can be mechanical or hydraulic. Either way, elements like brakes, belts, propellers, and wheel motion are all determined in this stage to ensure there is a solid plan to achieve and maintain the target speed of the ride while maintaining rider safety.

THE PHYSICS

I have never really thought of the complexity of physics involved in roller coaster design. My good friend who drafts and engineers the tracks and cars of roller coasters shared some pretty amazing information with me. First, the cars themselves are amazingly detailed in design. The material used for the exterior has to be very sturdy but light enough to allow for speed and th added weight of riders. The material needs to be resistant to friction, heat, and corrosion to ensure that important elements like the wheels latching on the tracks never get weak, melt, or break. In addition, the interior needs to ensure maximum rider comfort while catering to the ride itself - you can get heavily stuffed comfortable seating that adds too much weight, but you can't make it

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