IEC 63453

Railway applications - Current collection systems - Validation of simulation of the dynamic interaction between pantograph and overhead contact line

IEC 63453: 2025 specifies functional requirements for the validation of simulation techniques and tools used to assess the dynamic interaction between overhead contact lines and pantographs, as part of the prediction of current collection quality, to ensure confidence in, and mutual acceptance of the results of the simulations.
This document deals with:
- input and output parameters of the simulation;
- comparison with line test measurements, and the characteristics of those line tests;
- validation of pantograph models;
- comparison between different simulation tools;
- limits of application of validated methods to assessments of pantographs and overhead contact lines.
This document applies to the current collection from an overhead contact line by pantographs mounted on railway vehicles. It does not apply to trolley bus systems.

Applications ferroviaires – Systèmes de captage du courant – Validation des simulations de l'interaction dynamique entre le pantographe et la caténaire

Les techniques de simulation sont utilisées pour évaluer l'interaction dynamique entre les lignes aériennes de contact et les pantographes, dans le cadre de la prédiction de la qualité de la collecte de courant.
La CEI 63453 : 2024 spécifie les exigences fonctionnelles pour la validation de ces outils de simulation afin de garantir la confiance et l'acceptation mutuelle des résultats des simulations.
Ce document traite des points suivants
- les paramètres d'entrée et de sortie de la simulation
- la comparaison avec les mesures des essais en ligne et les caractéristiques de ces essais ;
- la validation des modèles de pantographes
- la comparaison entre différents outils de simulation ;
- les limites de l'application des méthodes validées aux évaluations des pantographes et des lignes aériennes de contact.
Le présent document s'applique au captage du courant d'une ligne aérienne de contact par des pantographes montés sur des véhicules ferroviaires. Il ne s'applique pas aux systèmes de trolleybus.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 28-Jan-2025
• ICS: 45.060.01 - Railway rolling stock in general
• Technical Committee: TC 9 - Electrical equipment and systems for railways
• Drafting Committee: PT 63453 - TC 9/PT 63453
• Current Stage: BPUB - Publication being printed
• Start Date: 08-Nov-2024
• Due Date: 29-Nov-2024
• Completion Date: 29-Nov-2024

Standards Content (Sample)

®
Edition 1.0 2025-01
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Railway applications – Current collection systems – Validation of simulation of
the dynamic interaction between pantograph and overhead contact line

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester. If you have any questions about IEC
copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication, please contact the address below or
your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

IEC Secretariat Tel.: [phone]
3, rue de Varembé [e-mail]
CH-1211 Geneva 20 www.iec.ch
Switzerland
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigendum or an amendment might have been published.

IEC publications search - webstore.iec.ch/advsearchform IEC Products & Services Portal - products.iec.ch
The advanced search enables to find IEC publications by a Discover our powerful search engine and read freely all the
variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical publications previews, graphical symbols and the glossary.
committee, …). It also gives information on projects, replaced With a subscription you will always have access to up to date
and withdrawn publications. content tailored to your needs.

IEC Just Published - webstore.iec.ch/justpublished
Electropedia - www.electropedia.org
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published
The world's leading online dictionary on electrotechnology,
details all new publications released. Available online and once
containing more than 22 500 terminological entries in English
a month by email.
and French, with equivalent terms in 25 additional languages.

Also known as the International Electrotechnical Vocabulary
IEC Customer Service Centre - webstore.iec.ch/csc
(IEV) online.
If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication or need

further assistance, please contact the Customer Service
Centre: [e-mail]. ®
Edition 1.0 2025-01
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Railway applications – Current collection systems – Validation of simulation of

the dynamic interaction between pantograph and overhead contact line

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 45.060.01  ISBN 978-2-8327-0095-2

– 2 – IEC 63453:2025 © IEC 2025
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 6
1 Scope . 8
2 Normative references . 8
3 Terms and definitions . 9
4 Symbols and abbreviated terms . 13
5 General . 14
5.1 Overview of the validation process . 14
5.2 Typical application . 17
6 Modelling of the pantograph . 17
6.1 General requirements . 17
6.2 Input data requirements . 17
6.2.1 General . 17
6.2.2 Mass – spring – damper models (lumped parameter models) . 18
6.2.3 Multi-body models . 18
6.2.4 Transfer function models . 18
6.2.5 Hardware in the loop . 18
6.3 Validation of pantograph models . 18
7 Modelling of the overhead contact line . 20
7.1 General requirements . 20
7.2 Data requirements . 20
7.3 Static check of overhead contact line model. 21
8 Parameters of simulation . 21
9 Output . 22
9.1 General . 22
9.2 Contact force . 22
9.3 Contact wire displacement . 23
9.4 Pantograph displacement . 23
10 Validation with measured values . 23
10.1 General . 23
10.2 Comparison values . 24
10.3 Limits of validation . 25
10.3.1 Application of simulation tool to other conditions . 25
10.3.2 Permissible changes of pantograph characteristics . 25
10.3.3 Permissible changes of overhead contact line parameters . 25
10.3.4 Permissible changes of the simulation parameters. 25
11 Reference model . 26
11.1 Purpose of reference model . 26
11.2 Reference model data . 26
11.3 Parameters of simulation . 26
11.4 Reference model results . 27
Annex A (normative) Reference model specification . 28
A.1 General . 28
A.2 Overhead contact line data . 28
A.2.1 General data. 28
A.2.2 Special data for the overhead contact line reference model – AC –
Simple . 30

A.2.3 Special data for the reference model of overhead contact line AC –
Stitched . 31
A.2.4 Special data for the reference model of overhead contact line DC –
Simple . 32
A.3 Pantograph data . 33
A.4 Results of simulations for reference models . 34
Annex B (normative) Model specifications and measurement results for validation . 37
B.1 Measurement results of simple AC high speed overhead contact line . 37
B.1.1 Simulation data for overhead contact line model . 37
B.1.2 Pantograph model . 47
B.1.3 Measured data of dynamic interaction for validation. 47
B.2 Measurement results of a stitched AC high speed overhead contact line . 48
B.2.1 General . 48
B.2.2 Simulation data for overhead contact line model . 48
B.2.3 Pantograph data . 59
B.2.4 Calculated and measured data of OCL-rest position for validation . 60
B.2.5 Measuring data of dynamic interaction for validation . 60
B.3 Measurement results of simple DC high speed overhead contact line . 61
B.3.1 General . 61
B.3.2 Simulation data for overhead contact line model . 61
B.3.3 Pantograph data . 75
B.3.4 Measured data of dynamic interaction for validation. 75
Annex C (informative) Assessment process example for dynamic interaction between
"new" OCL design or "new" pantograph design for interoperability purpose . 77
Annex D (informative) National annex for Japan – Permissible changes of the

simulation parameters . 81
Bibliography . 82

Figure 1 – Evaluation process . 16
Figure A.1 – AC – Simple – Overhead contact line model . 30
Figure A.2 – AC – Stitched catenary overhead contact line model . 31
Figure A.3 – DC – Simple catenary overhead contact line model . 32
Figure A.4 – Pantograph model. 33
Figure B.1 – Cantilever model elements in Table B.2, Table B.42 and Table B.49 . 38
Figure B.2 – Basic dropper arrangement span type ST1 . 54
Figure B.3 – Basic dropper arrangement span type ST2 . 54
Figure B.4 – Basic dropper arrangement span type ST3 . 54
Figure B.5 – Basic dropper arrangement span type ST4 . 55
Figure B.6 – Basic dropper arrangement span type ST5 . 55
Figure B.7 – Basic dropper arrangement span type ST6 . 55
Figure B.8 – Basic dropper arrangement span type ST7 . 56
Figure B.9 – Basic support arrangement Mast Type MT1 (pull-off) . 58
Figure B.10 – Basic support arrangement Mast Type MT2 (push-off) . 59
Figure B.11 – Basic support arrangement mast type MT3 (tube steady arm) . 59
Figure C.1 – Method of OCL assessment . 79
Figure C.2 – Method of pantograph assessment . 80

– 4 – IEC 63453:2025 © IEC 2025
Table 1 – Required accuracy of simulated static values . 21
Table 2 – Required accuracy of simulated dynamic values . 24
Table 3 – Combinations of OCL and pantograph reference models . 26
Table A.1 – Data for reference overhead contact lines . 29
Table A.2 – AC – Simple – Overhead contact line model – Geometry and elasticity of
droppers . 31
Table A.3 – AC – Stitched catenary overhead contact line model – Geometry and

elasticity of droppers . 32
Table A.4 – DC – Simple catenary o
...