Abstract
When a ropeway carrier is travelling upward, it suddenly swings backward greatly while passing through a tower, and collided with the tower. One of the accident causes is pointed out to be wind gust. This paper provides simulation results of carrier swing behavior as wind gust acts from the front when the ropeway carrier passes through the tower upward. The main results obtained are as follows. (1) Regarding the action timing of wind gust, backward swing of the carrier becomes the largest when wind gust acts near the time of carrier entering the tower. (2) Wind velocity of wind gust to allowable swing angle when the carrier passes through the tower is 19.8m/s at the time of 9 people ride and 19.6m/s at empty vehicle. (3) Carrier swing behavior when damping ratio is increased is made clear in the case where wind gust acts when the carrier passes through the tower. (4) Proper damping ratio may reduce carrier swing when wind gust acts and improve safety agsinst wind gust when ropeway carrier passes through the tower. The future task is to study the best damping ratio in order to improve safety against wind gust when the carrier passes through the tower. It is expected that more safety measures will be taken to prevent the recurrence of the accident.
