Finite element study on temperature stress of medium strength aluminum alloy wire in high cold area

Abstract The extreme climatic conditions in cold regions place higher demands on power transmission, making it urgent to adopt transmission conductors with higher efficiency and minimal environmental impact. This paper conducts a finite element simulation analysis of a new energy-efficient conductor, the JLHA3-275 medium-strength aluminum alloy conductor, under load conditions in the harsh climate of Heilongjiang. A solid finite element model of the medium-strength aluminum alloy conductor was established, and its internal structure was meticulously simulated. The study analyzed the radial temperature distribution and stress distribution of the conductor under cold conditions and yielded the following results: when the temperature ranged from -40°C to -20°C, the overall temperature of the conductor increased by 58°C, and the conductor stress decreased by 40.1 MPa. As the current-carrying capacity increased, the radial temperature difference of the conductor increased from 3.43°C to 10.42°C, and the conductor stress increased with the radial temperature difference. Additionally, the conductor stress decreased as the number of layers increased.