Geometric Modeling of Flashover Configurations in Metallized Polypropylene Film

The phenomenon of surface flashover on Metallized Polypropylene Films (MPF) is a highly complex process of which very little is known. In order to begin to better understand this phenomenon, a computer model was developed to simulate current waveforms obtained in experiments. Expressing the entire system in terms of the parasitic elements of the film to form an RLC circuit, a mathematical model was used to describe the time dependent behavior of the current waveform through the film. A C++ program utilizing the Runge-Kutta method of solving differential equations was used to solve the computer model. These results led to a series of proposed experiments to determine the validity of the model and to better understand the physical mechanisms behind this class of surface flashover. When completed, these investigations will answer several questions regarding flashover and will lead to practical applications and further research.