Abstract
Vacuum interrupters in order to be used in various switch-gear components such as circuit breakers, distribution switches, contactors, etc. spread the arc uniformly over the surface of the contacts. The electrodes of vacuum interrupters are made of sinter-forged Cu-Cr materials for good electrical and mechanical characteristics. Since the closing velocity is 1-2m/s and impact deformation of the electrode depends on the strain rate at that velocity, the dynamic behavior of the sinter-forged Cu-Cr is a key to investigate the impact characteristics of the electrodes. The dynamic response of the material at the high strain rate is obtained from the split Hopkinson pressure bar test using disc-type specimens. Experimental results from both quasi-static and dynamic compressive tests are Interpolated to construct the Johnson-Cook model as the constitutive relation that should be applied to simulation of the dynamic behavior of the electrodes. The impact characteristics of a vacuum interrupter are investigated with computer simulations by changing the value of five parameters such as the initial velocity of a movable electrode, the added mass of a movable electrode, the wipe spring constant, initial offset of a wipe spring and the virtual fixed spring constant.