Three-Dimensional Fractal Analysis of Real Electrical Trees in Polyethylene
Hiroaki Uehara, Katsutoshi Kudo · Japanese Journal of Applied Physics · 1999
In this paper, real electrical trees in polymeric insulating materials were discussed from the viewpoint of their fractal characteristics. Experiments on real electrical trees were carried out in the needle to plane electrode geometry under ac voltage application. Samples in this investigation were made of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE). Two methods of reconstructing three-dimensional (3D) patterns of real electrical trees were developed. One is the computerized tomography method (CTM) and the other is the serial sectioning method (SSM). The relationship between tree characteristics and 3D fractal dimensions of tree patterns was studied. The experimental results showed that the spatial tree patterns have a fractal characteristics and that the tree characteristics can be characterized by fractal dimensions.