Study on Influence of Viaduct on Electric Field Distribution around High Speed Railway under Lightning Environment

Abstract

Lightning damage is one of the key factors that affect secure and stable operation of high-speed railway. Research on the variation law of electric field intensity around high-speed railway under the effect of lightning downward leader is of great value to explain lightning-striking mechanism of high-speed railway. In this paper, a three-dimensional lightning simulation model for high-speed railway is established based on leader progression model, and the influence of different viaduct heights and materials on the electric field distribution around high-speed railway is simulated and analyzed. It is found that the electric field intensity of viaduct catenary system with rebar mesh material is greater than that with concrete material, besides, the height increment of viaduct would strengthen the electric field intensity of the catenary system. Therefore, the requirement on lightning protection designation and construction of high-speed railway in viaduct section should be higher than that in roadbed section.