A study on hybrid modeling of electrical phenomena in contacts

The effect of microcontacts (size of the microcontact interface, space angle of the microcontact, etc.) on the potential and joule heat generation rate distribution of the contact device is analyzed using a hybrid finite-element model. In this model, the analytical solution of constriction resistance for single line contacts is adopted to consider the effect of microcontacts on calculating the potential distribution of the contact device using the finite-element method. The microcontact was treated as a one-dimensional element, which has only a resistance characteristic. The results of calculations revealed that the effect of microcontacts on the potential and joule heat generation rate distribution in the conducting bodies is substantial and consequently should be considered when simulating the thermal response of contact devices