Numerical study on the influence of aerodynamic effects on high rise pantograph using Immersed Boundary Method

Abstract

Pantographs, crucial for electric trains to collect high voltage AC from overhead wires, vary in geometry. The Indian Railway Section uses high-rise overhead equipment (OHE) lines for freight trains with double-stack containers. These elevated OHEs, 36% higher than standard, pose unique aerodynamic challenges. Prior research highlights the pantograph's role in aerodynamics, focusing on uplift generation, dynamic interactions, and stability in pantograph-catenary systems. Full-scale train tests are difficult, making numerical simulations more efficient and cost-effective. Adjusting static upthrust force for pantograph improves the current collection but raises concerns about contact strip wear and entanglements. This study aims to develop a method to investigate the aerodynamic behavior of high-rise pantographs using the immersed boundary method in a High-Performance Computing (HPC) environment.