Rail track distributed transmission line impedance and admittance: theoretical modeling and experimental results

Frequency-dependent distributed transmission line self and mutual impedances and admittances for a single-track, power-rail electrified railway are obtained by experiment and modeling. Impedance results obtained by numerical calculation from an electromagnetic minimum energy field solution using the finite-element method are compared with analytic impedance models based on the Carson-Pollaczek equations for a stratified, weakly conducting ground and with practical experimental measurements made on a short length of rail track. The running rail self conductances and the power rail to running rail mutual capacitances are also evaluated by the finite-element method and compared with experimental measurements. A physical interpretation of the results is given in terms of conductive and induced ground currents caused by finite ground conductivity and relative permittivity