Effect and behaviors of ambient humidity on the wear of metal-impregnated carbon strip in pantograph-catenary system

The causes of abnormal wear in contact strip of pantograph have been extensively investigated. Initially, based on field data analysis, the wear rate of strip was found to be strongly correlated with ambient humidity. Subsequently, a series tests of the strip was conducted, and the micromorphology was preformed post-tests, which indicated the evolution law of wear rate under different ambient humidity conditions. Finally, through grey relational analysis, it was observed that the degree of correlation between different influencing factors and wear rate at low humidity was greater than that at high humidity. Based on the findings of the aforementioned study, it is concluded that the abnormal wear of strip is caused by a decrease in ambient humidity.