A Non-Destructive Airtightness Testing Method for Assessing Interfacial Performance of Cable Accessories

Cable accessories are critical components of cable lines, with their interface structure serving as a primary weak point in operational performance. Accurately measuring and assessing interfacial performance is paramount. Due to their destructive nature, existing insulating performance testing methods fail to assess the quality of cable accessory installations on-site effectively. This study presents a non-destructive airtightness testing method for assessing the interfacial performance of cable accessories. Based on the gas leakage characteristics, two airtightness indicators, namely leakage coefficient and withstand pressure, are defined and calculated to assess the sealing performance of the interface structure. Moreover, the proposed method is applied to interfaces with varying interfacial pressures and roughness levels, and compared with results obtained from existing insulating performance-focused evaluation systems. The comparative analysis reveals a strong correlation between airtightness and insulating performance indicators, confirming the feasibility and validity of the airtightness testing method. With its comprehensive advantages, the proposed method can be utilized for on-site quality assessment of installed cable accessories, providing a novel technological approach to enhance the operational capabilities of cable systems.