Electrical Safety Issues when Using Electrically Conducting Reinforced Concrete in the Foundations of AC Contact System Supports

Authors

  • Ivan A. Baranov
  • Artem Yu. Sulimin
  • Ilya A. Terekhin

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24160/1993-6982-2026-2-22-29

Keywords:

electrically conducting reinforced concrete, supports, contact system, grounding devices, electric power engineering, electrical safety

Abstract

Existing grounding systems for contact system supports require constant monitoring and maintenance. Problem areas in this regard include spark gaps in gas discharge protection devices, assemblies for fastening the operational grounding connections to rails, etc. To solve this problem, special electrically conducting reinforced concrete has been developed for the foundations of metal supports, the use of which helps eliminate the problematic components. The article discusses electrical safety issues when using electrically conducting reinforced concrete in the foundations of contact system supports depending on the distance to the traction substation, the soil top layer resistance, the type of human coming in contact with the support, and the environment humidity. The study was carried out on the basis of theoretical and practical data on electrically conducting reinforced concrete using a special software package for simulating a human coming in contact with a support under the potential of an AC contact system. An equivalent circuit diagram was developed; the process of a human coming in contact with a metal support under a potential of 27.5 kV was simulated, and the conditions for ensuring the electrical safety of the proposed solution were obtained. Dependences of the current flowing through the human body and the touch voltage on the distance to the traction substation, the upper soil layer resistance, the type of human coming in contact with the support, and the environment humidity were constructed. The study results can be used in designing the foundations for supports made of electrically conducting reinforced concrete used in the field of railway power supply, which makes it possible to use them as natural grounding devices, enhance reliability owing to decreased operating costs, and increase the safety of work on the tracks. The study results have demonstrated compliance with electrical safety conditions when using electrically conducting reinforced concrete in the foundations of contact system supports.

Author Biographies

Ivan A. Baranov

Assistant of Railway Power Supply Dept., Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport Uni-versity, e-mail: baranov@pgups.ru

Artem Yu. Sulimin

Ph.D.-student of Railway Power Supply Dept., Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport Uni-versity, e-mail: sulimin.artem@gmail.com

Ilya A. Terekhin

Ph.D. (Techn.), Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor of Railway Power Supply Dept., Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport Uni-versity, e-mail: terekhin@pgups.ru

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Для цитирования: Баранов И.А., Сулимин А.Ю., Терёхин И.А. Вопросы электробезопасности при применении электропроводящего железобетона в фундаментах опор контактной сети переменного тока // Вестник МЭИ. 2026. № 2. С. 22—29. DOI: 10.24160/1993-6982-2026-2-22-29

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Конфликт интересов: авторы заявляют об отсутствии конфликта интересов

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For citation: Baranov I.A., Sulimin A.Yu., Terekhin I.A. Electrical Safety Issues when Using Electrically Conducting Reinforced Concrete in the Foundations of AC Contact System Supports. Bulletin of MPEI. 2026;2:22—29. (in Russian). DOI: 10.24160/1993-6982-2026-2-22-29

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Conflict of interests: the authors declare no conflict of interest

Published

2026-04-20

Issue

Section

Electrical Complexes and Systems (2.4.2)