8. FEM MATLAB model implementation strategy

In order to test the validity of the models discussed earlier using MATLAB, an aluminum power conductor with a steel core having a total diameter of 35.56 mm and having an ultimate tensile strength of 51.51kN was used in setting up the MATLAB simulation. Further physical properties of the power cable are shown in Table 1. The power conductor had a minimum bending stiffness EImin of 8.66 Nm2 and maximum bending stiffness EImax of 433 Nm2 . The wholistic finite element models where implemented in MATLAB using strategy expressed in Figure 2.


Table 1. Power transmission conductor physical properties.

The inputs in the MATLAB algorithm were bending and axial loads, the cross-sectional area of the power conductor, strand radius and strand material type. The type of analysis which can be either static or dynamic was also specified as part initial and boundary conditions. Also included in the algorithm was to specify if the computation focuses on local vibration of the power conductor or the global vibration model.
