Transforming life and reliability of railway overhead electric power lines

随着铁路日益电气化，服务水平取决于架空电源的寿命和可靠性的提高，而不是现有材料和技术的性能。架空输电线路是一种无冗余度的高应力结构。它们在使用中的失效是由磨损、疲劳开裂和腐蚀的组合引起的，并且可能受到几何形状的强烈影响(例如，隧道接近处的坡度)。受流质量取决于材料在综合电缆张力下的行为、电缆支承的频率、受流受电弓的动态负载以及环境负载(例如侧风)。该项目的完成将有助于网络铁路公司继续致力于提高现有架空线路设备的可靠性和降低维护成本。将这项研究与Network Rail的目标相结合，提供了一条实现结果的途径。目的和目标：确定新的线路材料、部件和几何结构如何以比当前系统更低的成本提供更好的动力。这将通过建立一个现有的有限元模型来实现，以纳入天桥和平交道口等有限净空情况的存在。这项研究将通过使用开发的模型来确定架空线路设备上的高作用力区域，从而能够调查如何减少或管理力量，并用于预测未来在一系列条件下容易发生故障的区域。研究方法的新颖性：研究将考虑尚未在架空线路安装中应用的材料、部件和安装几何形状。研究将侧重于开发当前的架空线路模型，以纳入梯度，以预测铁路网区域的动态负荷，如天桥/地桥和平交道口。还将开发流体模型，以便与架空线路模型一起工作，以确定侧风的负载和影响(例如，称为飞跃导线的影响)。与EPSRC的战略和研究领域保持一致：在生产寿命更长的基础设施方面，该研究与可持续发展议程保持一致。环境变化是通过增加风力对结构的影响来考虑的。材料工程(金属和合金)是选择用于这一工业应用的新材料的关键因素。此外，这项研究与EPSRC的工程设计领域非常一致，从某种意义上说，我们将寻求优化未来架空线路的设计。由于模型中包含侧风，这也将与EPSRC的流体动力学和空气动力学研究领域保持一致。参与的任何公司或合作者：Network Rail-访问数据、现场测试/测量站点和关键工程专家Furrer Frey-共同资助研究、访问数据和关键工程专业知识

As railways are increasingly electrified, service levels depend on an increase in life and reliability of overhead electric power supplies beyond the performance of current materials and technology. Overhead power lines are highly stressed structures without redundancy. Their failure in service is caused by a combination of wear, fatigue cracking, and corrosion, and can be strongly influenced by geometry (e.g. gradient at approach to tunnels). Current collection quality is determined by material behaviour under combined cable tension, the frequency of cable supports, dynamic load from current collection pantographs, and environmental loading (e.g. side winds). Completion of the project will lend itself to the ongoing commitment by Network Rail to improve the reliability and lowering of the cost in maintaining the existing overhead line equipment. Integration of the research with Network Rail's aims provides a route through which results can be implemented.Aims and objectives: To establish how novel line materials, components and geometries may offer improved dynamics at reduced cost relative to current systems. This will be achieved through developing an existing finite element model to incorporate the existence of limited clearance cases such as overbridges and level crossings. The research will identify areas of high force on the overhead line equipment through the use of the developed model, enabling investigation of how forces can be reduced or managed, and be used to predict areas that would be prone to failure in the future over an range of conditions. Novelty of the research methodology: The research will consider materials, components and installation geometries which have not yet been applied in overhead line installations. Research will focus on developing current model of overhead lines to incorporate gradients to predict dynamic loads in areas of the rail network such as over/underbridges and level crossings. Fluid models will also be developed to work with the overhead line model to determine the loads and effects of side winds (e.g. the effect known as galloping wires). Alignment to EPSRC's strategies and research areas: The research is aligned with the sustainability agenda in producing longer life infrastructure. Environmental change is considered through the effect of increased wind forces on structures. Materials engineering (metals and alloys) is a key factor in selecting novel materials for use in this industrial application. Moreover, the research is aligned well with EPSRC's areas of engineering design, in the sense that we will seek to optimise the design of future overhead lines. With side winds included in the model, this will also align with EPSRC's research areas of fluid dynamics and aerodynamics.Any companies or collaborators involved: Network Rail - access to data, field test/measurement sites, and key engineering expertiseFurrer+Frey - co-financing the research, access to data, and key engineering expertise