Influence of arc discharge on the temperature and wear behaviors of the contact strip in pantograph-rigid catenary systems under AC conditions

A block-on-ring tester with AC was used to conduct a series of experimental tests to gain further insights into the severe wear of the carbon strip in subway pantograph-rigid catenary systems. During the test, the arc discharge energy, the temperature of the contact strip, and the wear rate of the contact strip were measured. The experimental results indicate that the arc discharge has a great influence on the temperature and wear behaviors of the contact strip. The measured temperature and wear rate data exhibit an inflection point when the average arc discharge energy reaches approximately 2.5e4 J/min. When the average arc discharge energy exceeds this inflection point, the dispersion of both the temperature and wear rate data significantly increases, and the crack on the worn surface of the contact strip also increases considerably. Additionally, the worn surface was examined using SEM, and the wear mechanism of the contact strip at different arc discharge energies was discussed. The results show that as the arc discharge energy increases, the arc erosion degree of the contact strip intensifies and the arc erosion area expands. The arc discharge is the primary cause of the temperature increase and serious wear of the contact strip.