Analytical solutions for studying pantograph-catenary interactions

Abstract

The thesis focuses on studying train pantograph-catenary dynamic interaction, which is an essential aspect of railway engineering, as it can significantly impact the performance and safety of the railway system. The interaction between the pantograph and catenary lead to a vibrations in both the systems inducing a loss of contact between the pantograph and catenary, a highly undesirable problem for electrically powered transmission. In the dissertation, we will focus on a particular analytical method developed using a combination of Normal-mode Summation and Laplace Transformation, which was used to derive solutions for a variety of problems associated with a moving load on a catenary system. The first case tries to determine the efficacy of the mathematical method for this particular problem by considering the simplest case of a moving load on an elastic beam. The next chapter provides a more complicated and realistic model by the inclusion of damping for the continuous supports of the catenary. The solution developed for this case was validated using the analytical solution for an infinite beam. It was further used to verify the solutions developed on Ansys and Nastran. Finally, it was also used to verify a finite element model still under development. The analytical solution provides a robust solution to verify other numerical models being developed. Finally, the thesis also addresses the challenges and the limitations of each of these approaches and suggests ways they can be improved through future research.