ABSTRACT
Pantograph-catenary interaction is a critical issue for electrified railway systems, as it represents a limiting factor for the maximum speed at which the electric rolling stock can be operated and, at the same time, strongly affects the reliability, availability and maintainability of both the rolling stock and the infrastructure.
This chapter reviews recent research on pantograph-catenary interaction. A general review of dynamic problems related to pantograph-catenary systems is provided, and numerical methods currently used to predict the behaviour of the system under given operating conditions are presented. Experimental techniques for laboratory and line tests on pantographs are introduced, followed by a description of wear and damage phenomena arising at the interface between the pantograph head and the overhead contact line. Finally, emerging long-term trends are outlined, considering in particular active pantograph control, condition monitoring applications, pantograph aerodynamics and current collection from an overhead contact line for heavy road vehicles.
