The loops that excite riders are made possible by steel construction. Engineers carefully calculate not only the angles and gravity forces that the human body can tolerate but also where these forces must be centered in order to keep passengers securely in their seats. Courtesy of Arrow Dynamics, Inc.

Roller Coasters: A Case Study

Creative engineers--like all creative individuals--do not think in just one mode; they apply their imaginations and skills in many different directions at the same time. One of the best examples of this creative synthesis is the design of roller coasters, which incorporates a wide range of engineering specialties and capabilities in pursuit of a unique combination of fun and safety. Modern coaster design incorporates every possible technical innovation into a context that constantly beckons to the imagination.

The first modern roller coaster appeared in the 1880s at Coney Island, New York. Since then, hundreds have been built around the world, in a wide range of styles, materials, and sizes. After declining for some years following World War II, the art of roller coaster design has staged a spectacular revival in the 1980s and 90s. One of the leaders of this revival is the Utah firm of Arrow Dynamics, which traces its beginnings to the design of the first roller coaster at Disneyland, the Matterhorn Bobsled, in 1959.

Arrow Dynamics is now headed by mechanical engineer Ron Toomer, who joined the firm in 1965. He and his team have designed nearly a hundred coasters, pioneering some of the most famous modern innovations, such as the corkscrew turn, multiple loops, standing coasters, and suspended coasters. Arrow's coasters incorporate modern lightweight materials, electronic controls, finite-element computer aided design, aerodynamics, mechanical systems, structural innovations, and even expertise from psychology and physiology.