Numerical study and mutual interaction on wear and dynamic performance under the influence of pantograph-catenary system dynamic parameters

The abnormal wear of the pantograph and catenary system (PCS) has caused significant economic losses, and understanding the relationship between the wear performance of contact pairs and dynamic interaction has become a widely recognized research issue. This study presents a numerical model for exploring the correlation between the wear and dynamic performance of the PCS, integrating the contact strip wear model with the PCS dynamic model. Firstly, a wear model for the pantograph contact strip was established based on the Archard model, taking into account the multi-parameter impact and dynamic interaction of the PCS. Subsequently, the wear performance of the contact strip was analyzed under different PCS dynamic parameters based on multibody dynamics theory. The results indicate that the parameters of the PCS have varying degrees of influence on the wear performance of the contact strip. Specifically, the equivalent stiffnesses of the three pantograph components significantly affect the wear performance, and some of these parameters were validated through experiments. However, the density of the bolts and channel steel in the catenary suspension mechanism has almost no influence on the wear performance. Finally, the wear performance was significantly improved by selecting the optimal parameter combinations. This research provides important guidance for improving the wear and dynamic performance of the PCS.