Abstract With the widespread application of composite insulators in transmission lines, exploring the accumulation mechanism of pollution particles on composite insulator surfaces is of importance to ensure the safe and steady operation of the power system. Addressing the current theoretical shortcomings, this study categorises the accumulation process of particles on the insulator surface into three stages, namely ‘spatial motion’, ‘surface collision’, and ‘surface motion’. The motion and rotation velocities in a multi‐physics field are...