Study on Friction and Wear of Sliding Electrical Contact of Pantograph-catenary System under Fluctuating Compressive Load

In the operating process of train, the compressive load of pantograph-catenary system is fluctuating in a form similar to the sine wave. The friction between pantograph slide and contact wire, influenced by fluctuating compressive load, directly affects the wear rate of slide. In this paper, the fluctuant state of the compressive load of pantograph-catenary system is simulated by the experiment machine of sliding electrical contact. The influence mechanisms of operating speed, current, fluctuating amplitude of compressive load and fluctuating frequency of compressive load on friction and wear rate are studied. Research results are as follows: The friction and the wear rate both increase with the increase of operating speed or fluctuating amplitude of compressive load. The wear rate increases and the friction decreases with the increase of current. The influences of fluctuating frequency of compressive load on friction and wear rate are not obvious. The roughness of contact surface caused by arc erosion and mechanical wear is the main reason of increase of friction and wear rate. The rising temperature makes the material easy to wear, but the lubrication caused by high temperature makes the friction reduced. When the current is constant, the wear rate is positively correlated with the friction.