Structural Performance Analysis and Optimization Design of Railway Pantograph under High-Speed Operating Conditions

In high-speed railways, the pantograph serves as the sole apparatus for collecting electric energy, directly impacting the operational safety of high-speed trains through its structural stability. As train speed increases, the interaction between the pantograph and the catenary becomes more pronounced, potentially compromising the structural safety of the pantograph during operation. Previous studies have not fully accounted for the significant effects of large fluctuations in the high-speed pantograph-catenary contact force on the pantograph structure. This paper addresses the issue by establishing a comprehensive finite element model of the pantograph that incorporates parametric structural dimensions. The validation of the model is confirmed through lumped mass parameter identification and modal analysis tests. Additionally, a dynamic coupling model of the pantograph-catenary system is developed to assess the load impact on the pantograph. By applying the load, the dynamic deformation and stress of the pantograph are analyzed to identify critical structural locations during high-speed operation. The findings reveal that the structural strength of the pantograph at 400 km/h falls below the permissible threshold. Consequently, a neural network-based optimization approach is proposed to minimize the maximum stress and deformation of the pantograph at this speed. The pantograph’s structural performance response surface is constructed using sensitivity analysis and a radial basis neural network. Finally, a multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) is employed to search the response surface and achieve optimal results.