Introduction of variability into pantograph–catenary dynamic simulations

Currently, pantograph–catenary dynamic simulations are mainly based on deterministic approaches. However, the contact force between catenary and pantograph depends on many key parameters that are not always quantified precisely and can vary in time and space. To get a better chance of addressing extreme or combined critical conditions, methodologies to consider variability are thus necessary. Aerodynamic forces and geometrical irregularities of catenaries are thought to be significant sources of variability in measurement and this paper proposes methods to take them into account. Results are compared with measurements to correlate the effect of the considered parameters with experimentally observed variability. Finally, a virtual certification example is shown, with a study of the influence of speed on the impact of variability.     

Active control strategy on a catenary–pantograph validated model

Dynamic simulation methods have become essential in the design process and control of the catenary–pantograph system, overall since high-speed trains and interoperability criteria are getting very trendy. This paper presents an original hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) strategy aimed at integrating a multicriteria active control within the catenary–pantograph dynamic interaction. The relevance of HIL control systems applied in the frame of the pantograph is undoubtedly increasing due to the recent and more demanding requirements for high-speed railway systems. Since the loss of contact between the catenary and the pantograph leads to arcing and electrical wear, and too high contact forces cause mechanical wear of both the catenary wires and the strips of the pantograph, not only prescribed but also economic and performance criteria ratify such a relevance. Different configurations of the proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller are proposed and applied to two different plant systems. Since this paper is mainly focused on the control strategy, both plant systems are simulation models though the methodology is suitable for a laboratory bench. The strategy of control involves a multicriteria optimisation of the contact force and the consumption of the energy supplied by the control force, a genetic algorithm has been applied for this purpose. Thus, the PID controller is fitted according to these conflicting objectives and tested within a nonlinear lumped model and a nonlinear finite element model, being the last one validated against the European Standard EN 50318. Finally, certain tests have been accomplished in order to analyse the robustness of the control strategy. Particularly, the relevance or the plant simulation, the running speed and the instrumentation time delay are studied in this paper.     

Influence of the aerodynamic forces on the pantograph–catenary system for high-speed trains

Most of the high-speed trains in operation today have the electrical power supply delivered through the pantograph–catenary system. The understanding of the dynamics of this system is fundamental since it contributes to decrease the number of incidents related to these components, to reduce the maintenance and to improve interoperability. From the mechanical point of view, the most important feature of the pantograph–catenary system consists in the quality of the contact between the contact wire of the catenary and the contact strips of the pantograph. The catenary is represented by a finite element model, whereas the pantograph is described by a detailed multibody model, analysed through two independent codes in a co-simulation environment. A computational procedure ensuring the efficient communication between the multibody and finite element codes, through shared computer memory, and suitable contact force models were developed. The models presented here are contributions for the identification of the dynamic behaviour of the pantograph and of the interaction phenomena in the pantograph–catenary system of high-speed trains due to the action of aerodynamics forces. The wind forces are applied on the catenary by distributing them on the finite element mesh. Since the multibody formulation does not include explicitly the geometric information of the bodies, the wind field forces are applied to each body of the pantograph as time-dependent nonlinear external forces. These wind forces can be characterised either by using computational fluid dynamics or experimental testing in a wind tunnel. The proposed methodologies are demonstrated by the application to real operation scenarios for high-speed trains, with the purpose of defining service limitations based on train and wind speed combination.     

Analysis of dynamic interaction between catenary and pantograph with experimental verification and performance evaluation in new high-speed line

Understanding the dynamic interaction between the catenary and pantograph of a high-speed train is the one of the most important technical issues in the railway industry. This is because the catenary–pantograph system plays a crucial role in providing electric power to the railway vehicle for stable operation. The aim of the present paper is to estimate the current-collection performance of this system by using numerical analysis, in particular, the flexible multibody dynamic analysis technique. To implement large deformable catenary wires, an absolute nodal coordinate formulation is used for the cable element. Additionally, an efficient contact element and an interactive model for the catenary–pantograph system are introduced. Each developed model is then used for analytical and experimental verification. Actual on-line test results of existing high-speed railway vehicles are presented and used to verify the analysis model. Finally, the performance characteristics of a new 400 km/h-class high-speed line are estimated and evaluated on the basis of international standards.     

Dynamic assessment of existing soft catenary systems using modal analysis to explore higher train velocities: a case study of a Norwegian contact line system

Significant advances made on the rolling stock have considerably increased the possibility of higher speeds in existing railways. Thus, it is important to explore higher speeds and potential limiting factors of existing soft catenary systems. The present paper investigates procedures to assess the dynamic behaviour of these systems using response sampling and modal analysis. The assessment evaluates and quantifies dynamic response along the section. To verify the approach, a case study is conducted and the following assessment methods are used: lengthwise track correlation estimating dynamic predictability, power spectral density estimations before and after passage and short-time Fourier transforms and spectrograms. The combination provides detailed information on the dynamic behaviour. The first part introduces necessary considerations for suggested modal analysis. The second part describes an existing Norwegian section. The case study is conducted using a finite element model including a straight and a given section between Oslo-Trondheim, providing detailed evaluations and system limitation detections.     

基于坐席类型动态分配的旅客列车开行方案

为提高铁路部门服务质量和铁路旅客出行体验, 并制定可满足旅客需求多元化的旅客列车开行方案, 考虑坐席动态分配对旅客列车开行方案进行研究。从旅客和铁路运营部门2个角度出发, 分别以旅客动态乘车广义时间最短和铁路收益最大为目标, 以客流守恒、区间通过能力和满足客流需求等为约束建立多目标规划模型。通过Logit模型确定硬座、硬卧、软卧这3类坐席的分担率, 确定列车定员数, 并在求解过程中依据生成的开行方案不断更新3类坐席的分担率以实现3类坐席的动态分配, 直至结果趋于稳定。结合算例采用带精英策略的非支配排序遗传算法(NSGA-Ⅱ)求解, 并进行算例分析, 计算结果表明: 建立考虑坐席类型动态分配的旅客列车开行方案, 在实现旅客对坐席选择的同时, 铁路旅客服务率提高了3.5%, 铁路部门收益增大了1.5%。     

基于新旧动能转换背景车辆工程专业新能源汽车方向课程体系实施的保障措施 ——以青岛黄海学院为例

文章以青岛黄海学院为例,在对新能源人才现状及需求调研的基础上,设计面向"新旧动能转换"背景下的车辆工程专业新能源汽车课程体系,提出车辆工程专业新能源汽车方向课程体系的实施保障措施,以期培养出适应新能源汽车行业和企业发展需求的新能源汽车人才.