posted on Mar, 24 2008 @ 03:10 PM
reply to post by jkrog08
The way I understand the tunnel system to theorectically work would be that it is air-pressure driven or even potentially shot through the tube system
via a rail-gun type propulsion system. The thing everyone here needs to remember is that with the capability of these Tunnel Boring Machines to be
able to build a sealed wall behind it as it is actually digging through the Earth is where the time savings and cost efficiency work for its
advantages.
I know I read someone else's post on here about a TBM melting rock and making the tunnel sides smooth as glass and this is something I've heard of
before as well. Now think about this for a moment if you would and consider the ability of moving a device through a tube system in order to get from
point A to point B and what device can you compare it to in the real world?
Do you give up? Think money. Think sitting in line. Think filling out a document in order to get money. The tube system at the bank where you go to
cash your paycheck is a similar model in that it is a air-pressure driven tube shaped to fit within a glass tube that you see pop out of the ceiling
or the ground depending on your particular branch and or country.
I don't have the exact specifics but if other people post here I'm sure I can break down the process a bit more through intelligent investigational
skills and some patience.
jkrog08 have you checked out the rest of ATS as I am certain there are more in depth posts elsewhere where you might pick up some
of the information for this thread or you can jump into that thread with your relevant information in order to collaborate more in depth to
investigate to your heart's content.
The potential for mag-lev is also there in that the system would be magnetically floating over the actual tunnel which is of course sealed and then
can be pressurized in order to keep the tube-vehicle actually floating in there. If you think about it that the tube might have 1, 2, or 3 magnetic
levitation devices running along the tunnel like as an example the railroad track and being pressurized it would essentially float on a cushion of air
thereby limit the actual contact of the tube-vehicle to the side giving less friction to lessen drag so that actual only limitation would be stopping
the vechicle and or the propulsion device.
[edit on 24-3-2008 by SpartanKingLeonidas]