Bionic Optimization and Aerodynamic Performance Analysis of High-speed Train Pantograph

The aerodynamic drag of a high-speed train has a significant impact on its energy consumption. At high speeds, the pantograph is one of the primary sources of aerodynamic drag for the train. To enhance train operation characteristics and reduce aerodynamic drag, two optimized pantograph models with bionic non-smooth grooves beneath carbon slide plates were designed based on bionic non-smooth theories, using shark skin as the bionic object. The Navier-Stokes equation and k-ϵ turbulence model were adopted to simulate the flow field structure of two pantograph optimized models. The results show the structure of pantograph head has a significant effect on its separation point of the boundary layer, the wake flow and the tail vortex area. Compared to the pantograph head with arc-shaped grooves, the pantograph head with V-shaped grooves exhibits a more significant backward movement of the boundary layer of separation point. This results in a more stable wake flow and a more pronounced reduction in the area of the tail vortex. Furthermore, incorporating V-shaped grooves beneath the carbon slide plate resulted in an average rate of drag reduction increase of 4.9% for the pantograph head and 4.7% for the pantograph compared to the original pantograph.