Pantograph/Catenary Hybrid Simulation using the Rotational Disc

This study proposes a new pantograph testing method for railway pantograph/overhead contact lines (OCL) systems, based on hybrid simulation consisting of a physical pantograph and a numerical OCL model. The dynamically substructured system (DSS) testing method is applied to a real shinkansen pantograph, using an actuator/DSS configurations that have been implemented at the Railway Technical Research Institute. The DSS method is used in conjunction with new ‘High-Speed Test Facility for Pantograph/OCL Systems’ that is arranged to be in dynamic interaction with the shinkansen pantograph head. This novel experimental system enables the investigation of dynamic interactions between the contact wire of the OCL and the pantograph head, due to span-passing. The contact force between the rotational disc and the pantograph head is estimated based on strain measured at the pantograph head. Results from this experimental investigation are compared with those generated by a numerical simulation of the emulated system, i.e. the system to be represented by the DSS experimentation.