The Vertical Forces Introduced by Wind on the Active Pantograph from Bodywork of Locomotive LE 060 EA of 5100 kW

Abstract

Gusts of wind with high speed can adversely affect the operation of the electric railway vehicles. These vehicles are able to move and to obtain a high performance, as long as the power supply is ensured. The variation of the vertical forces for maintaining contact between pantograph and catenary may cause interruption of the power supply of the electric railway traction vehicles. The placement of the capture equipment on the vehicle body determines appearance of aerodynamic forces acting on it. To see which are the vertical forces introduced by wind on active capture equipment, used at locomotives LE 060 EA of 5100 kW, we considered the EP3 type of pantograph as model. This was modelled at scale 1:1 taking into account the placement on the body of the locomotive. For the simulation of wind we considered three point values of its speed (10 m/s, 20 m/s, 30 m/s) and angle of eight values that are within the range of 0 deg – 180 deg. With the results of the simulation we have done a comparative analysis on the additional vertical forces introduced by wind for the cases analyzed.