Technical Papers and Presentations

Toughened glass insulator is a key component of a high-voltage overhead transmission and distribution lines, supporting mechanically the conductors and insulating them electrically from ground potential. Insulators units are assembled in strings of different length and configuration ensuring a reliable mechanical connection between the transmission tower and the conductors. Thus, SEDIVER places specific emphasis on evaluating the mechanical performance of the insulator. Mechanical tensile test is carried out using a test-rig designed to simulate the predominant service-induced stress acting on this component under operational conditions. In addition, SEDIVER and SIMTEC developed a 2D axi-symmetric numerical model of the insulator itself with COMSOL Multiphysics® and use numerical testing to further improve the insulator design. This paper reports the experimental measurements realized with the test-rig and the numerical predictions of the 2D axi-symmetric model. While the comparison with experimental results confirms the validity of the model, numerical results provide local insights on the behaviour of the insulator under stress.