Analysis of the Cable System Force Under Different Laying Conditions

Power cable system can suffer severe mechanical stress due to their laying methods. Improper laying techniques can lead to mechanical damage, compromising the performance and safety of the cables. This paper focuses on typical scenarios that may induce mechanical degradation in MV power cables. The finite element analysis (FEA) method is employed to simulate stress concentration and force distribution in cables and their terminals under various laying conditions. The study primarily investigates: (1) the stress distribution in power cables under different laying configurations, and (2) the mechanical stress analysis of power cable terminals under different bending radii and laying methods. The results reveal that as the bending radius at the cable terminal's outlet side decreases, the maximum stress within the terminal increases significantly, with a potential increase of up to 500 %. Among different fixation methods, fixing the entire terminal results in the lowest maximum stress, measured at <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$3.59\left(\text{GN} / \mathrm{m}^{2}\right)$</tex>, with the stress concentration primarily located on the copper conductor side of the incoming cable. In scenarios where cables sag away from the cable tray, stress is predominantly concentrated at the point where the cable exits the tray. For cables suspended between two trays, stress concentration is observed at the bending regions of the cable. The findings of this study provide valuable guidance for optimizing the installation of cables and terminals at critical locations, thereby effectively mitigating potential damage caused by excessive stress concentration. This research contributes to enhancing the reliability and safety of power cable systems in practical applications.