Testing of a lightweight innovative composite pantograph through open-loop Hardware-In-the-Loop methodology
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The pantograph is a fundamental component in electrified rail vehicles. Its aims to transfer of electric current from the overhead contact line (OCL) to the vehicle through the collector strips, guaranteeing a proper dynamic behaviour [1]. One of the influent parameters is the panhead mass and the equivalent mass of the articulated frame [2], correlated with higher maximum and standard deviation values of the contact force. Therefore, a need for mass reduction in pantograph systems was highlighted. In this context, a lightweight pantograph prototype is studied in this paper. Composite materials are implemented in different components of the pantograph (upper and lower arm, panhead) to reduce the dynamically participating mass [3]. Besides the use of composite materials, an innovative lightweight layout of the head suspension is introduced. Prototypes of the system components are going to be realized, and dynamic characterization tests will be performed taking inspiration from the EN 50318 standard [4]. After the experimental tests, a dynamic model of the pantograph will be developed, taking into account the flexibility of the upper arm component to perform numerical simulations of the pantograph-catenary dynamic interaction. Finally, the pantograph prototype will be tested through open-loop Hardware-In-the-Loop tests [5] by applying excitations derived from the numerical simulations, with the aim of assessing the stress state to perform strength analyses of the composite material components under simulated operating conditions.
