Development of Virtual Tools for the Validation Study of Rigid Catenary Installations

Abstract Electrification systems in the railway field have evolved over time, adapting to the new needs that have arisen as technology advanced. The applicable standards seem to leave the systems in which the overhead contact rail is implemented so far in the background, resulting in references to it that are clearly insufficient, even in the most recent revisions of technical requirements. Simulation tools allow a path for the development of studies related to the contact dynamics between pantograph and contact line, focused mainly on improving the exploitation capacities while guaranteeing a correct quality in the process of the current collection. This work contains a procedure for generating a simulation tool. The results are mainly focused on the rigid electrification system and represent a broad knowledge base to introduce a multitude of challenges when it comes to improving the capacity of these railway facilities under operational conditions, to improve the strategies of maintenance and to calculate the life cycle. It can also be verified that the standards applicable to this environment makes possible to clearly identify the fields on which research efforts can be focused, so that a common framework can be established for all the agents involved from the design to the operational phase. This work has been produced under development of UIC-IRS 70,020.