Numerical simulation on the effect of current intensity on electrical contact performance of electrical connectors subject to micro-slip wear

• Published in: Wear Vol. 542-543; p. 205270
• Main Authors: He, Wenxin, Feng, Yu, Wu, Shaolei, Wu, Kai, Ye, Jiaxin, Wang, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.04.2024
• Subjects: Electrical contact; Electrical contact resistance (ECR); Fretting wear; Thermal-electrical-mechanical coupling (TEMC); Electrical contact resistance (ECR); Thermal-electrical-mechanical coupling (TEMC); Fretting wear; Electrical contact
• ISSN: 0043-1648; 1873-2577
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wear.2024.205270

This article aims to develop a wear simulation method considering thermal-electrical- mechanical coupling to obtain the evolutions of contact variables and electrical resistance. Then, the influence mechanism of current intensity on the electrical contact performance subject to micro-slip wear is revealed. The maximum wear depth exhibits an increasing and then decreasing trend with the electric current, and the wear profile shows a W-shape at the start and then evolves into a U-shape under 15 A/mm. Meanwhile, a greater contact half-width is observed under a larger current condition to maintain a stable and low electrical resistance. Furthermore, experimental results are obtained confirming the potential of this numerical approach to simulate the wear of electrical contact. •A novel wear simulation method of electrical contact is developed.•The key parameters of the numerical model are optimized.•The effect of current intensity on the electrical contact performance subject to micro-slip wear is revealed.