Numerical and Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation of Pantograph-Catenary Interaction

This paper resumes the results of recent research activities concerning the simulation of pantograph-catenary interaction. Two approaches are considered: the first one purely based on numerical simulation of the pantograph and catenary subsystems and of interaction effects; the second one, called hybrid simulation or ‘Hardware-in-the-Loop’, is based on the interaction, through the use of a suitable testing apparatus and of real-time computing, of a physical pantograph with a numerical model of the catenary. The paper also presents the comparison of results obtained using the two simulation techniques with line measurements and examines the influence of the contact strip deformability on high-frequency pantograph-catenary interaction effects. Finally, the application of numerical simulation to the study of wear effects in the contact strips is presented.