Electro-thermal modelisation with 1D CRM method for a moving pantograph strip

Thermal problems are one of the numerous phenomena which govern a train pantograph strip. Many thermal flux and two types of heat sources take place in the strip temperature evolution. The two heat sources are: (1) a surface heat source due to friction and Joule losses in an electrical contact resistance and (2) a volumetric heat generation resulting from Joule effects in the strip itself. The surface heat source has a zigzag move which depends on the catenary grid configuration. This paper presents a thermal 1D CRM (Centered and Refined Mesh) numerical method devoted to simulations of train pantograph carbon strip thermal distributions. An electrical model is coupled to the our problem in order to consider all Joule effects. Besides, several mathematical procedures are used to optimize the model such as a theoretical domain change which allows a fixed surface heat production as well as a local refined mesh. Finally, the model allows to calculate approximations of the strip temperature evolution in function of the many input parameters and to predict the critical thermal steps during a real train motion.