Optical fiber composite overhead ground wire(OPGW) is susceptible to lightning strikes which induce ablation damage. The ablation arc corresponds to a complex nonlinear electromagnetic-thermal plasma discharge process. In this study

the strong and weak coupling effects of electromagnetic

thermal and fluid fields during the evolution of dynamic lightning arcs are fully considered

and a dynamic ablation model for the lightning strike process of OPGW in distribution networks is established. Simulations are conducted to investigate lightning-induced ablation damages to distribution-network OPGW

and the influences of transferred charge quantity

OPGW cross-sectional structure

and lightning current amplitude on OPGW lightning damage are comparatively analyzed. Discharge simulation tests on lightning damage of OPGW were carried out to analyze the effect of transferred charge on the ablation damage process of three types of OPGW for distribution lines. Simulation and experimental results indicate that

when the transferred charge rises from 50 C to 150 C

the ablation depth increases by 5.34 times in simulation and 4.38 times in experiment

while the ablation area increases by 11.5 times and 4.71 times

respectively. Single strands with smaller cross-sections in OPGW are more vulnerable to lightning damage and prone to fracture under tensile load

whereas the overall structural performance of OPGW remains relatively stable. High-temperature continuous ablation caused by lightning arcs is the primary cause of OPGW lightning damage. When the amplitude of lightning current C-component drops from 97.5% to 90%

the ablation depth is reduced by 10.49% and the ablation area decreases by 14.37%. Consequently

optimal OPGW types should be selected according to local lightning property and actual engineering construction conditions.