Fundamental property of a nonlinear vibration system based on a rigid overhead wire-pantograph system

In an electric railway, contact loss occurs intermittently between overhead wire and a pantograph. The contact loss brings in some problems as development of wear. Although many researchers recently studied the phenomena, the problem was not sufficiently examined from the viewpoint of bifurcation theory. In this paper, we study the fundamental property of a nonlinear vibration system based on a rigid overhead wire-pantograph system [7]. First, we explain a behavior of the system. Then in order to show the existence domain of the periodic and non-periodic solutions in this system, we derive a two-parameter bifurcation diagram. Finally we try to explain the phenomena of this system with the help of an experimental apparatus.