Validity of the voltage-temperature relation for contact elements in high power applications

With the voltage-temperature (V-T) relation, established by Kohlrausch in 1900, the electric potential distribution in an arbitrarily shaped, thermally insulated, current carrying conductor can be used to calculate the associated temperature distribution. An important application is the determination of the maximum temperature in electric contacts. However, researchers found deviations from the V-T relation for large contact systems when heat dissipation to the environment via radiation and convection becomes significant.