Formulation and validation of an efficient numerical model for energy conductor cables based on finite beam elements

Resumo

Brazil is a country with continental dimensions and the availability of energy throughout the national
territory becomes a challenge, since hydroelectric power plants are responsible for 75% of the generation of energy
in the country, which requires large extensions of transmission lines according to the Ministry of Mines and Energy
(1). These transmission lines are formed by cables that need clamps for their fixation. Most cases of conductor
cable failures occur in the contact region within the clamp where visual inspection or the application of sensors
for measuring voltages and controlling the failure process becomes an activity of high level of difficulty according
to CARDOU (2).
This work develops a methodology through computer simulation using finite element analysis to analyze
the contact stresses in 7 layers and 120 wire helical cables. According BAUMANN (3) beam elements were used,
this strategy aims to obtain a lower computational cost compared to modeling with solid elements. The validation
of the results is made by comparing the results for the tensile test present in the literature in the models developed
by LALONDE (4) and JUDGE (13) and also with analytical results. The models showed convergence of results,
showing a difference of about 1%. The commercial software Ansys APDL version 2020 R1 is used to develop this
work.