Vertical dynamics of a pantograph carbon-strip suspension under stochastic contact-force excitation

In electric trains, a pantograph is mounted on the roof of the train to collect power through contact with an overhead catenary wire. The carbon-strip suspension of a pantograph, along which contact with the catenary occurs, is subjected to harmonic and stochastic contact-force excitations. In this paper, vertical dynamics of the carbon-strip suspension is studied with an aim of improving the reliability and safety of running trains. A single-degree-of-freedom model of the carbon-strip suspension with nonlinear stiffness is developed using parameter values of the DSA X pantograph. Through stochastic averaging, a Fokker–Planck–Kolmogorov equation governing the stationary response of the carbon-strip suspension is set up. Based on the transition probability density of the stationary response, it is found that random jumps and bifurcations in the carbon-strip motion can occur. The possibility of motion bifurcations and the frequency of random jumps warrant consideration in advanced design of carbon-strip suspensions.