Evolution of Perturbations on Conductor Surface at the Initial Stage of Skin Electric Explosion

Abstract

The paper proposes the model describing the initial stage of skin electrical explosion of cylindrical conductors. The model considers the magnetic field diffusion, skin effect, Joule heating, conducting material dynamics under the action of the Ampere force and thermoelastic stresses, material transition to the plastic state and plastic flow, phase transition from solid to liquid at the melting point, and transition from liquid to vapor (vaporization). The analysis is given to the nature of thermoelastic stresses and elastoplastic deformations of the material in states preceding its melting. Discussed is the probability of the material fracture and/or deformation of its surface. The dynamics of the outer boundary is calculated for both solid and liquid states of the material. The analysis is presented for the decrement of the perturbation growth on the molten surface, and ways of improving the stability of the external surface of exploding conductors are discussed.