Study of electric arc dynamics using three-dimensional reconstruction: application to the detection of electrical faults in the aerospace industry
With the growing deployment of direct current (DC) power grids, particularly in the aerospace sector, the detection of electric arcs remains a major challenge. A thorough understanding of the electrical signature of arcs and the identification of their specific characteristics are therefore essential for the development of new detection devices.
To address this challenge, this article presents an experimental study on the dynamics of DC electric arc columns generated by contact separation. These plasmas are studied in three dimensions using a stereoscopic device, alongside an analysis of their electrical characteristics.
The experimental results reveal a strong correlation between electrical fluctuations and the deformation of the arc column, identified through frequency analysis of the measured signals. A detailed study of the mechanisms governing the deformation of the arc column and its stability is conducted, highlighting several coupled phenomena such as kink instabilities. Finally, the deformation of the arc column is quantified, and its evolution is studied as a function of various parameters, including current intensity, electrode gap, pressure, surface roughness, and electrode materials.
Title: DC arc plasma dynamics and electrical signatures investigated by 3D reconstruction and signal analysis.
Authors: A. Hellé, R. Hugon, F. Brochard, G. Marcos
References: Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, Volume 59, Number 15, 2026
