Temperature distribution in an ohmic-heated electrical contact at high signal frequencies

In classical contact theory, the temperature T of contact spots in an electrical interface passing a DC current is determined by the voltage drop V across the contact, i.e., the V-T relation. This paper reports on evaluations of the temperature distribution in a single circular contact spot in a copper-copper contact heated by an AC current. The steady-state maximum temperature was computed numerically for an AC electrical current of fixed amplitude and a frequency ranging from 100 Hz to 100 MHz. The computed temperature was compared with the predictions of the V-T relation.