In　recent　years,　the　ablation　failures　of　buffer　layer　frequently　occurred　in　cables　with　corrugated　aluminum　sheaths　have　aroused　the　widespread　attention　of　the　domestic　power　industry　to　the　smooth-aluminum-sheathed　HV　XLPE　cables,　whose　bending　performance　is　the　key　for　engineering　application.　In　this　paper,　a　three-dimensional　simulation　model　of　four-point　bending　of　a　XLPE　cable　with　smooth　aluminum　sheath　was　built,　where　the　cohesive　zone　model　was　used　to　simulate　the　mechanical　behavior　of　the　adhesive　layer.　As　for　the　bending　performance　of　smooth　aluminum　composite　sheath,　the　effects　of　the　hot　melt　adhesive,　the　compressible　thickness　of　buffer　layer,　the　thickness　and　material　of　non-metallic　outer-serving,　and　the　inner　diameter　of　aluminum　sheath　were　studied.　The　results　show　that　if　the　aluminum　sheath　is　not　bonded　to　the　outer-serving,　its　resistance　to　bending　deformation　is　so　poor　that　it　is　prone　to　wrinkle　and　so　as　to　squeeze　the　internal　insulation.　However,　an　integral　composite　sheath　can　be　formed　after　being　bonded,　whose　bending　resistance　is　dependent　on　the　total　thickness.　The　aluminum　sheath　thickness　is　designed　according　to　the　short　circuit　capacity　requirement,　and　the　total　thickness　required　for　the　bending　resistance　needs　to　be　supplemented　by　the　outer-serving,　whose　elastic　modulus　should　be　no　less　than　800MPa.　The　buffer　layer　has　little　effect　on　the　bending　performance　of　aluminum　sheath,　so　its　thickness　can　be　designed　mainly　from　the　absorption　of　the　insulation　thermal　expansion.　Finally,　an　110kV　XLPE　cable　with　smooth　aluminum　sheath　was　trial　produced　and　type　tested.　©　2021,　Electrical　Technology　Press　Co.　Ltd.　All　right　reserved.