Influence of catenary tension on static elasticity and dynamic contact force between pantograph and catenary

To improve the current collection quality of pantograph-catenary system at high-operating speed, the effect of contact wire tension and messenger wire tension on catenary elasticity and contact force has been analysed, respectively, by adopting the finite element method, and which is analysed by introducing the moving standard deviation value and the moving average value. The results show that the influence of contact wire tension and messenger wire tension on elasticity of catenary between two droppers periodically is different and the non-smooth degree of elasticity at the dropper-point has a great influence on changes of contact force between pantograph and catenary. The smaller messenger wire tension is and the larger contact wire is, the smaller the change of non-smooth degree of elasticity at dropper-points is. When the pantograph runs at the speed of 500 km/h, the current collection quality can be improved effectively by decreasing messenger wire tension and increasing contact wire tension.