What materials do engineers use for roller coasters?
Material – Wood and steel are the two primary materials used for roller coaster construction. However, steel is used more due to its versatility and ability to provide elements such as smoother rides and going upside down.
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Steel coasters are taller and faster, too. The world's tallest steel coaster stands 45 stories high. The tallest wooden coaster is less than half that height. Steel coasters reach speeds upwards of 125 miles-per-hour.
Engineering a roller coaster brings together many engineering disciplines, including mechanical engineering to design, implement, and maintain the ride and ensure it is safe, and structural engineering to guarantee the attraction can withstand the elements.
Designers test roller coasters with water-filled dummies. “It covers every aspect of coasters. The rides are tested with what we call water dummies, or sometimes sandbags.” The inanimate patrons allow designers to figure out how a coaster will react to the constant use and rider weight of a highly trafficked ride.
Most roller coaster design and engineering positions require at least a bachelor's degree in a field like electrical, structural or mechanical engineering. These degrees can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to design roller coasters that are safe, fun and structurally optimized.
Rollercoaster loops are most often not perfect circles – instead, they are teardrop-like in shape. This is because it takes a greater amount of acceleration to get the train around a perfectly circular loop.