Simulation analysis of offline characteristics between pantograph and catenary

To study the offline characteristics of pantograph‐catenary, finite element method was adopted in this study, and the coupled model of pantograph and catenary was established in the software of MSC. Marc to simulate the coupled motion of catenary and pantograph. First of all, relationship between distribution of catenary stiffness and contact force was analysed. It was obtained that the amplitude and variety of contact force were related to the stiffness of catenary, changing rate of stiffness and running speed of pantograph directly. In addition, the location, duration and space of offline were analysed under different speed, respectively. The results showed that offline often appeared at the location of smaller stiffness of catenary or higher changing rate of stiffness. Stiffness variety and running speed of pantograph have an influence on offline duration and spacing, and the shorter the duration, the bigger the spacing will be at the place where the rate of stiffness variety is high. The faster the pantograph runs not only the more offline points there will be but also the longer the duration will be as well as the bigger the spacing will be.