Parameter identification of overhead conductor rail support and its influence on the contact forces

Overhead conductor rail (OCR) serves as a crucial device employed in tunnels to power electric locomotives. The OCR is hung by supports mounted on the tunnel ceiling. Previously, the support was usually considered as a linear spring when modelling the OCR. The linear stiffness and mass adopted to the support model were imprecise, and damping was absent. It may be insufficient to reproduce the pantograph-OCR system (POCR) dynamic behaviour. This paper is devoted to improving the accuracy of POCR dynamic model and makes it more realistic. Field tests are conducted in order to identify the support parameters, including stiffness, damping and mass, for the first time. Then, a novel nonlinear stiffness-damping-mass support model is developed utilising the identified parameters and verified by comparing simulation results with measurement data. Finally, in pursuit of improving current collection quality, the effects of support damping and train speeds on contact forces are investigated. The results show that the support damping can mitigate the OCR's vibration. The increase of support damping within a specific range, 0–200 Ns/m, has a positive effect on the current collection quality.