Vibration influence and structural optimization analysis of rigid catenary in tunnel

With the continuous development of railway systems in China, the speed grades of trains have been consistently elevated, and the electrification of railways has become increasingly widespread. Consequently, higher requirements have been placed on the safety of electrified railway operations. However, during actual operation, pantograph-catenary failures occur frequently, disrupting current collection and affecting normal train operation. Particularly in the case of newly constructed tunnels employing rigid catenary systems, it is essential to consider the impact of pantograph-catenary dynamic interactions on cantilever-type supporting devices. Through finite element analysis of the cantilever assembly, the regions of maximum stress and strain, as well as areas susceptible to fatigue, were identified. Vibration characteristics and modal analysis were also conducted. The results indicate that fatigue-prone failure points in the rigid catenary system are primarily concentrated at the elastic clamps and rotating base. By reinforcing the material of these components to achieve sufficient strength and increasing the vibration frequency, the torsional vibration mode of the cantilever assembly was significantly improved. Furthermore, the addition of a leaf spring structure to the clamp assembly demonstrated excellent shock absorption and energy dissipation effects, thereby further enhancing the stability of the reinforced components.