SIMULATION OF THE WEAR BEHAVIOUR OF HIGH-SPEED OVER-HEAD CURRENT COLLECTION SYSTEMS

The present work describes a simulation procedure used for design optimisation of high speed train current collecting systems. The optimisation process is focussed on increasing the lifetime of high speed overhead contact lines. The dynamic behaviour of the catenary is calculated numerically and the results are used as an input parameter for lifetime prediction. The wear behaviour is simulated up to train speeds of 350 km/h by using a specially designed wear machine. The wear performance is measured automatically by a completely computer controlled data acquisition system under the following conditions: speeds up to 500 km/h; traction currents up to 1000 A; and contact forces up to 500 N. First results on the ICE-system (CuAg-contact wire, carbon contact strip) are reported and discussed.