Modal analysis of railway current collectors using Autodesk Inventor

Abstract

The paper presents the results of modal analysis of railway current collector type 160EC. In the first place, the analysis was carried out analytically for a simplified two lumped mass pantograph model. Then numerical analysis was conducted in the Autodesk Inventor (AI) on the prepared multibody model using the AI modal analysis algorithm, which is based on the finite element method (FEM). Model elements which are most relevant for attaining a correct representation of vibration properties when using AI modal analysis were indicated. The influence of selected parameters of modal analysis algorithm on results accuracy was investigated, e.g. the FEM mesh density. The natural frequencies and shapes of the first few vibration modes are shown. The results indicate that the frequencies of natural vibrations of the moving pantograph components are within the range of up to tens of hertzs. The possible use of results of pantograph modal analysis at the design stage and in the operation phase was also discussed.