Xiulong Yao¹, Mengge Yu^1,*, Jiali Liu², Qian Zhang¹

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.21, No.11, pp. 2795-2814, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2025.072708 - 01 December 2025

Abstract High-speed trains operating in freezing rain are highly susceptible to severe ice accretion in the pantograph region, which compromises both power transmission efficiency and dynamic performance. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon, an Euler–Euler multiphase flow model was employed to simulate droplet impingement and collection on the pantograph surface, while a glaze-ice formation model incorporating wall film dynamics was used to capture the subsequent growth of ice. The effects of key parameters—including liquid water content, ambient temperature, train velocity, and droplet diameter—on the amount and morphology of ice were systematically investigated. The results More >

Yan Xu¹, Dietmar Gohlich², Sangyoung Park², William Zhendong Liu³, Ziwei Zhou¹, Haiyang Qu⁴, Weidong Zhu^5,*

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.144, No.2, pp. 1655-1676, 2025, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2025.068771 - 31 August 2025

Abstract The emissions from traditional fossil heavy-duty trucks have become a conspicuous issue worldwide. The electrical road system (ERS) can offer a viable solution for achieving zero CO₂ emissions and has high energy efficiency in long-distance road cargo transport. While many kinds of pantograph structures have been developed for the ERS, their corresponding pantograph-catenary dynamic characteristics under different road conditions have not been investigated. This work performs a numerical study on the dynamics of the pantograph-catenary interaction of an ERS considering different pantograph structures. First, a pantograph-catenary-truck-road model is proposed. The reduced catenary model and reduced-plate model… More >

Xiang Kan¹, Yan Li², Tian Li^1,*, Jiye Zhang¹

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.20, No.5, pp. 1075-1091, 2024, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2023.044050 - 07 June 2024

Abstract A pantograph serves as a vital device for the collection of electricity in trains. However, its aerodynamic resistance can limit the train’s running speed. As installing fairings around the pantograph is known to effectively reduce the resistance, in this study, different fairing lengths are considered and the related aerodynamic performances of pantograph are assessed. In particular, this is accomplished through numerical simulations based on the k-ω Shear Stress Transport (SST) two-equation turbulence model. The results indicate that the fairing diminishes the direct impact of high-speed airflow on the pantograph, thereby reducing its aerodynamic resistance. However, it More >

Deng Qin¹, Xing Du², Tian Li^1,*, Jiye Zhang¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.139, No.2, pp. 2155-2173, 2024, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2023.044460 - 29 January 2024

Abstract Reducing the aerodynamic drag and noise levels of high-speed pantographs is important for promoting environmentally friendly, energy efficient and rapid advances in train technology. Using computational fluid dynamics theory and the K-FWH acoustic equation, a numerical simulation is conducted to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of high-speed pantographs. A component optimization method is proposed as a possible solution to the problem of aerodynamic drag and noise in high-speed pantographs. The results of the study indicate that the panhead, base and insulator are the main contributors to aerodynamic drag and noise in high-speed pantographs. Therefore, a gradual… More >

Shiyang Song^1,*, Tongxin Han²

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.20, No.1, pp. 127-145, 2024, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2023.030137 - 08 November 2023

Abstract Aiming to mitigate the aerodynamic lift force imbalance between pantograph strips, which exacerbates wear and affects the current collection performance of the pantograph-catenary system, a study has been conducted to support the beam deflector optimization using a combination of experimental measurements and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The results demonstrate that the size, position, and installation orientation of the wind deflectors significantly influence the amount of force compensation. They also indicate that the front strip deflectors should be installed downwards and the rear strip deflectors upwards, thereby forming a “π” shape. Moreover, the lift force More >

Jiawei Shi¹, Shuai Ge¹, Xiaozhen Sheng^2,*

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.18, No.2, pp. 463-480, 2022, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2022.017508 - 16 December 2021

Abstract In order to understand the mechanism by which a pantograph can generate aerodynamic noise and grasp its far-field characteristics, a simplified double-strip pantograph is analyzed numerically. Firstly, the unsteady flow field around the pantograph is simulated in the frame of a large eddy simulation (LES) technique. Then the location of the main noise source is determined using surface fluctuating pressure data and the vortex structures in the pantograph flow field are analyzed by means of the Q-criterion. Based on this, the relationship between the wake vortex and the intensity of the aerodynamic sound source on… More >

Yadong Zhang^{1, *}, Jiye Zhang²

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.16, No.1, pp. 105-120, 2020, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2020.07959 - 01 February 2020

Abstract The object of research of this paper is the DSA380 high-speed pantograph. The near-field unsteady flow around the pantograph was investigated using large eddy simulation (LES) while the far-field aerodynamic noise was analysed in the frame of the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings (FW-H) acoustic analogy. According to the results, the contact strip, base frame and knuckle are the main aerodynamic noise sources, with vortex shedding, flow separation and recombination around the pantograph being related key physical factors. The aerodynamic noise radiates outwards in the form of spherical waves when the distance of the noise receiving point is… More >

Zhiyuan Dai¹, Tian Li^{1, *}, Weihua Zhang¹, Jiye Zhang¹

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.16, No.1, pp. 31-40, 2020, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2020.07661 - 01 February 2020

Abstract Pantograph is a critical component of the high-speed train. It collects power through contact with catenary, which significantly affects the running safety of the train. Pantograph with double collector strips is one common type. The aerodynamic performance of the collector strips may affect the current collection of the pantograph. In this study, the aerodynamic performance of the pantograph with double strips is investigated. The numerical results are consistent with the experimental ones. The error in the aerodynamic drag force of the pantograph between numerical and experimental results is less than 5%. Three different conditions of More >