Author(s)

J. Benet, T. Rojo, F. Cuartero & E. Arias

Abstract

The increasing demands for rail units, requiring among other aspects optimal and accurate conditions to mount the catenary, needs a rigorous mechanical calculation where the development of the corresponding computer software is essential in order to solve the various problems in a satisfactory manner. Most of the work done at the moment are based on two-dimensional models, but that model is not quite realistic because the catenary is a structural system, consisting of wires arranged in a zigzag, considering different types of loading as the weight of the wires or the wind effect, acting such charges in different directions. The development of an advanced model in three dimensions can be of great help to achieve more realistic results. This paper is an introduction to the study of mechanical railway catenary based on a three-dimensional model, the method presented here allows different types of static problems to be solved, such as the calculation of the stiffness of the line and the calculation of the length of the droppers. Keywords: railway catenary, static problems, three dimensional models, length of the droppers, effect of the wind. 1 Introduction In order to obtain an adequate performance in the circulation of the railway units, the pantograph-catenary contact force should be maintained as uniform as possible, avoiding the lost of contact or take offs. This requires, among other aspects, precise conditions of assembly and a suitable configuration of the aerial

Keywords

railway catenary, static problems, three dimensional models, length of the droppers, effect of the wind.