Abstract
Secondary arc is a complicated and critical physical phenomenon with power transmission lines. An arc chain model was employed with a view to establish the governing velocity equations, in which the multiple forces impacts upon each element were specifically incorporated including electromagnetic force, wind load, air resistance and thermal buoyancy. Based on the proposed model for secondary arc dynamics, simulations were then carried out and further validated through physical experiments on a test platform, which showed good coincidence between the two. The research can provide fundamentals for understanding the physical nature especially the extinction mechanism of secondary arcs, and lays theoretical basis for optimal design of the transmission lines' auto-reclosing strategy.