Pantograph catenary dynamic optimisation based on advanced multibody and finite element co-simulation tools

Abstract

This paper presents recent developments undertaken by SNCF Innovation & Research Department on numerical modelling of pantograph catenary interaction. It aims at describing an efficient co-simulation process between finite element (FE) and multibody (MB) modelling methods. FE catenary models are coupled with a full flexible MB representation with pneumatic actuation of pantograph. These advanced functionalities allow new kind of numerical analyses such as dynamic improvements based on innovative pneumatic suspensions or assessment of crash risks crossing areas that demonstrate the powerful capabilities of this computing approach.

Keywords:

• pantograph catenary interaction
• co-simulation process
• multibody
• finite element
• innovative design
• infrastructure-rolling stock interaction

Acknowledgements

This paper describes work undertaken by SNCF Research and Innovation Department with the precious support of SNCF Infrastructure and Rolling Stock Engineering Departments as well as MSC Software, SDTools and Vibratec companies. The authors would like to particularly thank Thierry Bernard from MSC Software for his contribution on pantograph multi-disciplinary modelling and co-simulation process development.