Nonuniform Distribution of Conductivity Resulting From the Stress Exerted on a Stranded Cable During the Manufacturing Process

In this paper, we propose a method of three-dimensional finite element analysis to predict the electrical behavior of a stranded cable. The performance of a conductor depends not only on the material it is made from, but also on its metallurgical condition and the electrical resistance of the interwires contact areas. A mechanical simulation of the wiring and compacting processes is performed to examine the elastic-plastic deformations of the wires, as well as the shape and the pressure forces in the contact interfaces. This is followed by the analysis of an electrical model that aims to determine the electrical resistance of the deformed conductor. The coupling of mechanical and electric simulations is performed to investigate the nonhomogeneous distribution of conductivity resulting from the hardening of the material.