Work

A Comparative Study on the Influence of Track and Conductor Rail Irregularity on Collector Shoe-Conductor Rail Interaction Dynamics

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The dynamic characteristics of the collector shoe–conductor rail interaction directly affect the operational performance of metro systems. Although irregularities exist in both the track and the conductor rail, their relative influence on interaction dynamics has not been comprehensively compared. This study develops a coupled train–track–shoe–rail dynamic model to investigate these effects. Specifically, the conductor rail is modeled using a localized approach based on the Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) method. This is integrated with a multibody collector shoe model and an existing train–track interaction model to form a comprehensive simulation framework. After validating the model, the impacts of track irregularity, conductor rail irregularity, and support spacing are analyzed and compared. The results demonstrate that while conductor rail irregularity is the primary driver of contact loss, standard track irregularity can also account for approximately 10% of the dynamic response variation. Consequently, both factors must be integrated into future studies of collector shoe–conductor rail dynamics.

Source: Machines

DOI: 10.3390/machines14050475

Authors: Like Pan, Tong Xing, Wenrui Dai, Yan Xu, Weidong Zhu

Institutions: China Academy of Railway Sciences, Kunming University of Science and Technology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Language: English

Topic: Electrical Contact Performance and Analysis

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896