Design and Structural Optimization of an Adjustable Subway Platform Safety Board Using Finite Element Analysis
AUTHORS
Andreas Petrou,Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cyprus, Cyprus
Elena Christofi,Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cyprus, Cyprus
Michael Georgiou,Department of Transportation Engineering, European University Cyprus, Cyprus
Sophia Demetriou,School of Engineering, Frederick University, Cyprus
Daniel Nicolaides,Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Nicosia, Cyprus
Christina Loizou,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Near East University, Northern Cyprus
ABSTRACT
Accidents occurring at the platform–train interface remain a significant safety concern in urban railway systems due to irregular platform spacing, structural limitations, and increasing passenger density. Conventional subway platform safety boards, including fixed, sliding, and folding systems, often face limitations in structural adaptability, installation complexity, energy consumption, and maintenance requirements. To address these challenges, this study proposes a spacing-adjustable subway platform safety board that enhances passenger safety while maintaining structural stability and operational efficiency. The proposed system incorporates a passive mechanical adjustment mechanism comprising articulated supports, a ball-guided displacement structure, and a collision-prevention assembly that adapts to variable platform gaps without continuous electrical operation. Material selection was conducted through comparative tensile-strength and corrosion-resistance evaluations of multiple engineering alloys, including STS304L, STS316L, STS630, Monel 400, and Hastelloy-C. The results indicated that STS630 exhibited the most favorable combination of tensile and yield strengths and environmental durability for subway infrastructure applications. Finite element analysis was subsequently performed to evaluate deformation behavior under representative passenger loading conditions. Comparative analysis demonstrated that increasing the number of articulated supports and ball-guided components significantly improved load distribution and reduced structural deformation. The optimized configuration, incorporating five supports and five ball-guided mechanisms, exhibited the highest structural stability and minimum deformation. In addition, artificial neural network-assisted optimization was applied to improve design efficiency and determine the optimal structural configuration. The findings indicate that the proposed adjustable safety board provides a structurally reliable, energy-efficient, and economically feasible alternative to existing subway platform safety systems, with strong potential for future applications in urban railway infrastructure.
KEYWORDS
Andreas Petrou, Elena Christofi, Michael Georgiou, Sophia Demetriou, Daniel Nicolaides, and Christina Loizou
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