Abstract:As there is no mature standard for checking the current carrying capacity of AC cable intermediate joints at present, a three dimensional simulation model for the steadystate current carrying capacity of directly buried 110 kV cable intermediate joints and the cable body is established, and the influence law of ambient temperature, soil thermal conductivity and buried depth on steadystate current carrying capacity of intermediate joints is studied comparatively by finite elements. The results show that the carrying capacity of intermediate joint under different ambient temperatures, soil thermal conductivities and buried depths is always less than that of the cable body, and the carrying capacity of intermediate joint under the soil thermal conductivity of 0.5 W·(m·K) -1, the ambient temperature of 293 K and the buried depth of 1.75 m is 10.8% less than that of the cable body. According to the above research results, if the cable current carrying capacity is determined by that of the cable body, the major insulation of intermediate joints will be in an accelerated thermal aging state. In order to ensure the longterm stable operation of the cable, it is recommended that a certain margin should be left when the current carrying capacity is determined by the cable body.