Abstract: In order to study the difference between lightning impulse voltage waveform and standard lightning impulse voltage waveform of UHV GIS substation equipment,using the ATP-EMTP transient simulation software established a overall simulation model include " thunder source-inlet line-substation",based on the actual project parameter of a domestic UHV GIS substation. The influence of lightning type,propagation distance,voltage transformer and lightning arrester on the characteristics of lightning intruding wave in UHV substation and the insulation tolerance characteristics of substation electrical equipment under actual traveling wave characteristics are simulated and analyzed. Simulation results show that,influenced by lightning type,transmission distance,lightning arrester,transmission lines and substation topology,the actual voltage traveling wave head for a maximum of 7. 6 μs,the wave tail for the shortest time of 10. 512 μs. When subjected to severe lightning strike,the insulation withstand level of UHV substation electrical equipment under actual lightning impulse waveform is lower than the standard lightning impulse waveform. The results can preliminarily demonstrate and analyze the effectiveness of the lightning impulse test,it also can provide important technical basis and support for reasonable insulation design,reliable insulation coordination and accurate fault analysis.