Transforming life and reliability of railway overhead electric power lines

随着铁路电气化程度的提高，服务水平取决于架空电力供应的寿命和可靠性的提高，这超出了当前材料和技术的性能。架空电力线是没有冗余的高应力结构。它们在使用中的故障是由磨损、疲劳开裂和腐蚀的组合引起的，并且可能受到几何形状（例如隧道入口的坡度）的强烈影响。电流收集质量取决于材料在电缆联合张力下的性能、电缆支撑的频率、电流收集受电弓的动态载荷和环境载荷（例如侧风）。该项目的完成将使铁路网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。将研究与网络铁路的目标相结合，提供了一条可以实施结果的路线。目的和目标：建立新的生产线材料、部件和几何形状如何在降低现有系统成本的情况下提供更好的动力学性能。这将通过发展现有的有限元素模型来实现，以纳入存在的有限净空情况，如天桥和平交道口。该研究将通过使用开发的模型确定架空线路设备上的高压力区域，从而研究如何减少或管理压力，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，组件和安装几何形状。研究将侧重于开发当前的架空线模型，以纳入梯度来预测铁路网络区域的动态载荷，例如桥上/桥下和平交道口。还将开发流体模型，与架空线路模型一起工作，以确定负载和侧风的影响（例如，称为奔腾电线的影响）。与EPSRC的战略和研究领域保持一致：该研究与生产更长寿基础设施的可持续性议程保持一致。环境变化是通过增加的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的工程设计领域很好地结合在一起，因为我们将寻求优化未来架空线路的设计。由于模型中包含了侧风，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。任何涉及的公司或合作者：Network Rail -访问数据，现场测试/测量站点和关键工程专业知识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