An exploration of the super-critical speed dynamic behaviours of the pantograph-catenary system

The train operating speed is traditionally limited to lower than 0.7 times the critical speed of the catenary. The material's strength limits the tensile forces of the tension wires, preventing the further improvement of the train speed. A novel super-critical speed operating strategy of the pantograph catenary system (PCS) is proposed, using the relatively low tensile values of the catenary to make the pantograph run at a speed ratio larger than 1. The analytical results of a string under a moving load show the theoretical possibility of the super-critical speed operating strategy in moving load problems. The finite element method (FEM) is adopted for the model of the catenary. The differences between the simple catenary and the stitched catenary running at the super-critical speed regime are compared. Then, the tensile forces designation of the stitched catenary with different speed ratio values beyond 400 km/h is studied. Finally, the dynamic behaviours of the PCS reaching the super-critical speed regime are discussed, consisting of the continuous acceleration process and the transition process from the high-tension section to the low-tension section. The proposed super-critical speed operating strategy may be promising for the next-generation high-speed PCS.