Research Progress and Prospects on Pantograph-Catenary Arcing in Urban Rail Transit

［Objective］ Pantograph-catenary (PC) arcing degrades the train current collection quality, causes ablation of pantograph carbon strips and contact wires, and consequently affects safety and stability of train operation. While existing research on PC arcing primarily focuses on high-speed railways, urban rail transit (URT) differs in power supply methods and catenary suspension forms. Thus, it is necessary to conduct targeted research on PC arcing in URT. ［Method］ The current research progress on URT PC arcing is reviewed, modeling achievements that combine PC dynamics with arc blowing effects using black-box models or magnetohydrodynamic models are summarized. The progress of simulating arcing physical fields with finite element software is introduced. Recent developments in PC current-carrying experiments are outlined, focusing on the influence of speed, contact force, and current on arc intensity. Detection methods for PC arcing are summarized, of which photoelectric sensors are widely applied, and the integration of image recognition with machine learning technologies is a current research hotspot. ［Result & Conclusion］ Based on existing studies, arcing models that consider material state changes can significantly advance in-depth researches into arc ablation mechanisms. Meanwhile, including weather factors in modelling will further refine the analysis of PC arcing. Targeted enhancements to arcing data collection will help reduce maintenance workloads, and the integration of multi-department data will drive intelligent detection of PC arcing in URT.