324

324
SAG-TENSION CALCULATION
METHODS FOR OVERHEAD LINES
Task Force
B2.12.3
First edition: June 2007

Revision : April 2016
Sag-Tension Calculation Methods
for Overhead Lines
Task Force
B2.12.3
Convenor of WG B2.12: D. Douglass (United States)

Secretary of WG B2.12: M. Gaudry (France)
Task Force 3 Leader D. Douglass (United States)
Task Force 3 Secretary S. Hoffmann (United Kingdom)
H. Argasinska (Poland), K. Bakic (Slovenia), Anand Goel (Canada), S.

Hodgkinson (Australia), S. Hoffmann (United Kingdom), J. Iglesias Diaz
(Spain), F. Jakl (Slovenia),
D. Lee (Korea), T. Kikuta (Japan), Ryuzo Kimata (Japan), F. Massaro (Italy), A.
Maxwell (Sweden),G. Mirosevic (Croatia), D. Muftic (South Africa), Y. Ojala
(Finland), R. Puffer (Germany), J. Reding (United States), B. Risse (Belgium),
T.O.Seppa (United States),
R. Stephen (South Africa), S. Ueda (Brazil), L. Varga (Hungary)
Former Members of WG B2.12 who contributed to this brochure:

Y. Motlis (Canada, deceased), V. Morgan (Australia)
Other members of Study Committee B2 who participated in the writing, editing,

and reviewing of this document are:
WG B2.11 C. B. Rawlins (United States), D. Havard (Canada), K. Papailiou

(Switzerland)
WG B2.6 J. Rogier (Belgium)
Designated Study Committee B2 Reviewers

G. Brennan (Australia), J. Peralta (Portugal)
Study Committee B2 Members

P. Riisio (Finland), E. Ghannoum (Canada), C. Hardy (Canada), P. Meyere
(Canada)
Members of IEEE Subcommittee 15.11 Towers, Poles, and Conductors who

contributed:
Neal Schmidt (US), Rea Berryman (US), Steve Barrett (Canada), Alain Peyrot
(US)
Copyright 2007
Ownership of a CIGRE publication, whether in paper form or on electronic support only infers right of use for
personal purposes. Are prohibited, except if explicitly agreed by CIGRE, total or partial reproduction of the
publication for use other than personal and transfer to a third party; hence circulation on any intranet or other
company network is forbidden.
Disclaimer notice
CIGRE gives no warranty or assurance about the contents of this publication, nor does it accept any
responsibility, as to the accuracy or exhaustiveness of the information. All implied warranties and conditions are
excluded to the maximum extent permitted by law.
N ISBN : 978-2-85873-010-0
Sag-Tension calculation methods for overhead lines
REVISIONS
FIRST EDITION: JUNE 2007
MODIFICATION HISTORY
Amended Updated
Modifications
Part Date
Section 3 : Equation reference : (14) instead of (9)
Page 55 April 2016
Section 5 : Equation reference : 13 instead of 8
CIGRE - copyright 2016

WG B2-12 Calculation of Sag-tension for Overhead Power Lines
Table of Contents
List of Figures .................................................................................................................... iii
List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... v
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................. i
Introduction...................................................................................................................... i
The Catenary Equation ................................................................................................... ii
Mechanical Coupling of Spans ...................................................................................... iii
Conductor Tension Limits ............................................................................................. iv
Conductor Elongation Elastic, Plastic, and Thermal .................................................. iv
Sag-tension Calculation Methods ................................................................................... v
Parameter Sensitivity ...................................................................................................... v
Conclusions.................................................................................................................... vi
ABSTRACT........................................................................................................................ 1
KEY WORDS..................................................................................................................... 1
DEFINITIONS.................................................................................................................... 2
TERMS ............................................................................................................................... 5
1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 7
1.1 Conductor Naming Convention .......................................................................... 7
1.2 The Catenary Clearance Envelope...................................................................... 7
2.0 THE CATENARY ................................................................................................ 10
2.1 Catenary and parabolic solutions for sag in level spans ................................... 10
2.2 Total Conductor Length.................................................................................... 12
2.3 Conductor Slack................................................................................................ 12
2.4 Total and Horizontal Tension ........................................................................... 14
2.5 Engineering accuracy of sag calculations ......................................................... 16
2.6 Effect of change in conductor loading per unit length...................................... 17
2.7 Inclined spans.................................................................................................... 18
3.0 MODELING MECHANICALLY COUPLED SPANS ....................................... 21
3.1 Mechanical Equilibrium at Suspension Points ................................................. 22
3.2 Ruling Span Sag-tension Calculations.............................................................. 26
4.0 CONDUCTOR TENSION LIMITS ..................................................................... 28
4.1 Conductor tension limits under high ice and wind loading .............................. 28
4.2 Avoiding Aeolian Vibration Fatigue ................................................................ 29
5.0 CONDUCTOR ELONGATION - ELASTIC, PLASTIC, AND THERMAL...... 31
5.1 Overview of Conductor Elongation Models ..................................................... 31
5.2 Linear Thermal and Elastic Elongation ............................................................ 34
5.2.1 Linear Elastic Strain - All Aluminium Conductors .................................. 34
5.2.2 Linear Thermal Strain All Aluminium Conductor................................. 36
5.2.3 Linear Elastic Strain - Non-Homogeneous ACSR (A1/Syz) Conductors 37
5.2.4 Linear Thermal Strain - Non-Homogeneous A1/S1x Conductor ............. 38
5.3 Simplified Plastic Elongation (SPE) Model ..................................................... 39
5.4 Experimentally Measured Plastic Elongation of Stranded Conductors ........ 43
5.4.1 Stress-strain testing of stranded conductors.............................................. 43
5.4.2 Plastic elongation under initial high loading ............................................ 47
5.4.3 Long-time Metallurgical Creep - Plastic Elongation for Persistent
Moderate Loading..................................................................................................... 49
i
5.4.4 Long-time Creep Plastic Elongation with non-homogeneous stranded

conductors ................................................................................................................. 53
5.4.5 Summing Plastic Elongation..................................................................... 53
6.0 SAG-TENSION CALCULATION METHODS .................................................. 54
6.1 Sag-tension for A1 Conductor with LE (Linear Elongation) Model ................ 56
6.2 Sag-tension for A1/S1A Conductor at high temperature with Simplified Plastic
Elongation (SPE) Model ............................................................................................... 58
6.3 Sag-tension Calculation with Experimental Plastic Elongation (EPE) Model ....... 61
6.3.1 Maximum conductor tension with the EPE model ................................... 61
6.3.2 Final sag-tension accounting for aluminum creep with the EPE model... 63
6.3.3 Calculating Final sag-tension at high temperature with EPE model ........ 65
7.0 CONDUCTOR PARAMETER STUDIES ........................................................... 68
7.1 Conductor Weight............................................................................................. 68
7.2 Elastic Elongation ............................................................................................. 69
7.3 Plastic Elongation ............................................................................................. 70
7.4 Thermal elongation ........................................................................................... 71
7.5 Errors at elevated temperature .......................................................................... 73
7.6 Thermal elongation at low temperature. ........................................................... 74
8.0 References............................................................................................................. 75
ii
List of Figures
Figure 1 - Catenary variation with conductor temperature, ice & wind loads, and time
after installation where Tmax is the maximum conductor temperature. ..................... i
Figure 2 Conductor Stress (H/A) and Sag (D) vs. %Slack (100*(L-S)/S) where
L=conductor length and S=Span length based on the catenary equations................. iii
Figure 3 - Conductor elongation diagram.......................................................................... iv
Figure 4 - Influence of variation in the coefficient of thermal elongation on high
temperature sag. ......................................................................................................... vi
Figure 5 Catenary variation with conductor temperature, ice & wind loads, and time
after installation where Tmax is the maximum conductor temperature. .................... 8
Figure 6 - The Catenary Curve for Level Spans ............................................................... 10
Figure 7 Catenary Stress (H/A) and Sag (D) vs. %Slack (100*(L-S)/S) for Bare Drake
ACSR in a 300 m span at a tension of 20% RTS (69.5 MPa) at 15C....................... 14
Figure 8 - Comparison of catenary y(x) and difference between exact and parabolic
approximate solution as a function of x for ACSR Drake at a tension of 28020 N.. 16
Figure 9 - Heavy radial ice buildup on a relatively small bare overhead conductor. ....... 18
Figure 10 - Sag-tension for inclined spans. ...................................................................... 19
Figure 11 - Typical strain angle structure used to terminate a transmission line section. 21
Figure 12 - Typical suspension structure .......................................................................... 22
Figure 13 - Conductor Tension Variation with Temperature for 250m and 350m "Dead
end" Spans of Drake A1/S1A (ACSR) installed to 35 kN at 15oC........................... 23
Figure 14 - Moment Forces acting on a ceramic, glass, or composite Insulator Suspension
String......................................................................................................................... 24
Figure 15 Unbalanced horizontal tension vs. horizontal deflection for a 1.8m long
Insulator String weighing 890N supporting a 300m weight-span of Drake ACSR.. 25
Figure 16 - Elongation diagram of stranded conductor in a catenary............................... 33
Figure 17 - Assumed linear stress-strain behavior of a 402-A1-37 Arbutus conductor with
and without plastic elongation. ................................................................................. 36
Figure 18 Knee-point temperature as affected by creep elongation of aluminium
strands. ...................................................................................................................... 42
Figure 19 Typical stress-strain test results with 1-hour initial curve drawn and both
initial and final modulus shown................................................................................ 44
Figure 20- Stress-strain curve for 37 strand A1 conductor............................................... 45
Figure 21 - Raw data from a stress-strain test of A1/Syz conductor ................................ 46
Figure 22 - Raw data for a stress-strain test performed on the steel core alone for the
A1/Syz conductor whose composite test results are shown in Figure 21. ................ 46
Figure 23 - Initial plastic strain as a function of tension................................................... 48
Figure 24 - Creep elongation curves resulting from a series of tests at different tension
levels, all at room temperature.................................................................................. 50
Figure 25 - Creep elongation curves for A3 stranded conductor...................................... 51
Figure 26 - Graphical determination of creep elongation for a 37 strand all aluminium
stranded conductor at a constant tension equal to 20% of the RTS over 10 years. .. 52
Figure 27 - Sag-tension calculation for A1 conductor with High wind loading............... 58
Figure 28 - Sag-tension at High Temperature with SPE model for Drake ACSR in 300 m
span. .......................................................................................................................... 60
iii
Figure 29 - Sag-tension calculations of maximum, loaded conductor tension illustrating

the effect of plastic elongation.................................................................................. 62
Figure 30 Application of Experimental Plastic Elongation method in calculating
aluminum and steel core component stresses for initial installation of Drake ACSR
at 20%RTS and 15oC. ............................................................................................... 64
Figure 31 - Application of Experimental Plastic Elongation method in calculating
aluminum and steel core component stresses after 10 years of creep elongation at
15oC for Drake ACSR initially installed at 20%RTS. .............................................. 65
Figure 32 - Conductor Sag-tension calculation for high temperature after 10yr creep
elongation at 15C. ..................................................................................................... 66
Figure 33 - Sensitivity of Sag-tension calculations to variation in conductor weight per
unit length. ................................................................................................................ 69
Figure 34 - Sensitivity of Sag-tension calculations to variation in conductor elastic
modulus..................................................................................................................... 70
Figure 35 - Sensitivity of Sag-tension calculations to variation in plastic elongation of
Aluminum. ................................................................................................................ 71
Figure 36 - Sensitivity of Sag-tension calculations to variation in thermal elongation rate.
................................................................................................................................... 72
iv
List of Tables
Table 1 - Examples of Conductor Naming Methods .......................................................... 7
Table 2 - Sag & Vertical force in a 300 m inclined span with Drake ACSR at H = 28000
N................................................................................................................................ 20
Table 3 Resultant Force between 250m and 350m dead-end spans of ACSR Drake at
100oC......................................................................................................................... 25
Table 4 - Comparison of sag-tension for two spans which are mechanically independent,
perfectly coupled, and coupled with actual tension inequality. ................................ 27
Table 5 Sag-tension for maximum ice and wind load and for high temperature shown as
a function of initial stringing tension for a 300m span of Drake ACSR................... 28
Table 6 - H/w limits on unloaded conductor tension - Drake ACSR in a 300 m span. .... 30
Table 7 - Typical Linear Elastic Modulus for All Aluminium Conductors...................... 35
Table 8 - List of Conductor Final Modulus Values .......................................................... 38
Table 9 Maximum excess sag (m) due to the built-in aluminium stress posited by
Rawlins, at temperatures above the kneepoint, as estimated with the Alcoa SAG10
computer program..................................................................................................... 43
Table 10 - Initial settling and one-hour creep strain as a function of conductor type and
stress from Harvey & Larson.................................................................................... 48
Table 11 - Stress-strain data from IEC 1597 Table 3 ....................................................... 49
Table 12 - Typical Sag-tension Calculation Results where the permanent elongation of
the aluminum strands is determined by the maximum wind and ice load rather than
by metallurgical creep at everyday temperature. ...................................................... 54
Table 13 - Characteristics of 37-strand A1 and 26/7 strand A1/Sxy ................................ 56
Table 14 - "Knee-point temperatures" of A1/S1 (ACSR) as a function of stranding and
span length determined by the Alcoa graphical method. All conductors have an
aluminium strand area of 403 mm2. ......................................................................... 67
Table 15 - Table of Basic Sag-tension Sensitivities ......................................................... 73
Table 16 - Various high temperature sag errors................................................................ 73
v
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This technical brochure specifies and explains the primary elements of the sag-tension
calculation process, a process which is essential to the design and construction of
overhead lines. The various mathematical tools and conductor data considered herein are
used to predict sag and tension of catenaries at the full range of conductor temperatures
and ice and wind loads that occur over the rather long life of an overhead power line.
The goal of the document is not to develop a unique or best calculation method, but to
describe the overall process and explain the common calculation methods.
Introduction
Historically, for most overhead transmission lines, the sag of conductors (or tension) is
measured at the time of construction when the line is not energized. At the time of
installation, the conductors are at a temperature of 10oC to 35oC and tensioned to no more
than 10% to 30% of their rated tensile strength. Once the line is constructed, the phase
conductors may be subject to high temperatures during periods of high electrical loading
and both the lightning shield wires and phase conductors must remain intact during high
ice and wind load events for an expected useful life of 40 years or more. Under all
foreseeable conditions, the conductors must not break under high tension, fatigue under
persistent wind-induced motions, nor sag such that minimum electrical clearances are
compromised.
Span Length
Initial Installed Sag @15C
Final Unloaded Sag @15C
Sag @Max Ice/Wind Load
Sag @Max Electrical Load

- Tmax
Minimum Electrical
Clearance
GROUND LEVEL
Figure 1 - Catenary variation with conductor temperature, ice & wind loads, and
time after installation where Tmax is the maximum conductor temperature.
To assure that these conditions are met over the life of the line, the engineer must specify
initial measured (i.e. stringing) sags, based upon the following sag-tension calculations:
i
Sags and tensions after plastic elongation of the conductor due to occasional
severe ice and/or wind loads and to long-term creep elongation of aluminium
strand layers under normal everyday tension (difference in sag between the Initial
and Final Sag at 15oC in Figure 1).
Sags and tensions for all foreseen temperatures, over the life of the line, including
those (above 50oC) which may result from high electrical current loads (See sag at
maximum electrical load in Figure 1).
The maximum conductor tension under ice and wind loads which strain
structures (i.e. dead-end and angle) must withstand and the corresponding
maximum sag which must not infringe on minimum electrical clearances.
Conductor tensions during the coldest periods of winter to allow for sufficient
self-damping to prevent aeolian vibration-induced fatigue over the life of the line.
The Catenary Equation
The catenary equations (both exact and approximate) are examined for both level and
inclined spans. The various relationships between sag, tension (horizontal and total),
weight per unit length, and span length are studied and explained. The concept of slack
(difference in length between conductor and span) is defined and an important discussion
of limits on calculation accuracy is included.
Both approximate parabolic equations and the exact hyperbolic catenary equations are
explained. The catenary constant (tension divided by weight per unit length) is shown to
be an essential parameter of these equations.
Figure 2 shows a typical relationship between sag, conductor tension, and slack,
calculated with the catenary equation. As explained in the brochure, an increase in any or
all of the components of conductor elongation (e.g. thermal, elastic, and plastic) leads to
greater sag and reduced tension.
ii
200.0 15.0
180.0 13.5
Conductor Stress [H/A] - MPa
160.0 12.0
STRESS [H/A]
Catenary Sag - m
140.0 10.5
SAG [D]
120.0 9.0
100.0 7.5
80.0 6.0
60.0 4.5
40.0 3.0
20.0 1.5
0.0 0.0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5
% Slack [100*(L-S)/S]
Figure 2 Conductor Stress (H/A) and Sag (D) vs. %Slack (100*(L-S)/S) where
L=conductor length and S=Span length based on the catenary equations.
Mechanical Coupling of Spans

Transmission lines are usually comprised of multiple line sections. Each line section is
terminated at each end by a strain structure that allows no longitudinal movement of the
conductor attachment points and that the terminating insulator strings experience the full
tension of the conductors. Tangent suspension structures are used within the line section
to support the conductors. At suspension structures, the insulators and hardware used to
support the conductors are usually free to move both transversely and longitudinally to
the line and any modest difference in conductor tension between adjacent spans is
equalized by small movements of the bottom of the insulator strings.
This tension equalization between suspension spans works reasonably well for modest
changes in conductor temperature and small differences in ice and wind loading. The
brochure explains how this simplifies the sagging of conductor during construction and
stringing and in simplifying sag-tension calculations with the assumption of a ruling or
equivalent span.
The discussion of slack, and the sensitivity of tension and sag to it, is applied to
demonstrate how tension equalization at suspension supports occurs and under what
conditions errors in calculation become significant. The physical understanding of the
ruling span concept, as described in the brochure, is helpful in identifying those line
design situations where it should not be used.
iii
Conductor Tension Limits

Sag-tension calculations are normally performed with multiple constraints on tension and
sag. For example, the maximum tension under a specified wind and ice load condition
may be limited to 50% of rated strength and the conductor tension under everyday
conditions may be limited to a tension over weight per unit length value of 1000 meters.
The brochure describes the purpose of various tension limits and recommends references
that provide guidance in setting specific values.
Conductor Elongation Elastic, Plastic, and Thermal
The most important differences in sag-tension calculation methods involve the modeling
of conductor elongation due to changes in tension, temperature and time. In the simplest
elongation model (Linear Elongation), plastic elongation is ignored, and conductor
elongation under tension is assumed elastic. In a somewhat more sophisticated model
(Simplified Plastic Elongation), plastic elongation is represented by a typical value
based on experience. In the most accurate conductor elongation model (Experimental
Plastic Elongation), plastic elongation is calculated based upon experimental laboratory
conductor test data. In this experimental plastic elongation model, plastic increases in the
conductor length are calculated (including initial strand deformation and settling, worst-
case ice/wind load events, and long-time creep elongation due to sustained normal
tension) based upon line design assumptions and historical field data.
Long-time
or high
Elastic tension
Settlement Thermal Tensile
& strand plastic
Strain Strain Strain
Manufactured Length deformat'n
Strain
Figure 3 - Conductor elongation diagram.
The linear elongation model is simple to understand and allows algebraic solutions to
sag-tension conditions but, by ignoring plastic conductor elongation, structure tension
loads are over-estimated and conductor sag under both high wind/ice loading and at high
electrical current levels, can be underestimated.
iv
As discussed in the brochure, the Experimental Plastic Elongation model has several
advantages: (a) it yields realistic structure tension loads; (b) calculation of high
temperature sags with ACSR (A1/SA1) is more accurate; and (c) the plastic elongation of
the conductor can calculated based assumed loading events rather than using a typical
value based on experience.
Sag-tension Calculation Methods
The brochure acknowledges the widespread use of numerical solutions to sag-tension
calculations but uses graphical representations to provide the reader with insight
concerning the advantages and limitations of calculation methods of varying complexity.
In this discussion, the conductor elongation models are used in combination with the
catenary equation to determine sag-tension values for typical high temperature and
ice/wind loading events. The sag-tension solutions presented in this chapter illustrate
how plastic and thermal elongation, influence the tension distribution between aluminum
layers and steel core in ACSR (A1/SA1).
In this section, typical sag-tension calculation results are discussed. The usual meaning
of initial and final conditions is explained and their calculation demonstrated for the
different conductor elongation models. The interaction of the steel core and aluminum
layers under high tension and high temperature conditions is demonstrated graphically.
Parameter Sensitivity
In the final section of the brochure, some insight is provided into the influence of various
key parameters used in sag-tension calculations. For example, variation in the thermal
elongation coefficient of a stranded aluminum conductor can have considerable influence
on the sags calculated for a line at high conductor temperatures. As shown in Figure 4,
the sag at 100oC (9.7 m) increases by 200 and 500 mm when the coefficient of thermal
expansion is increased by 10% and 30%, respectively.
v
26/7 A1/S1 DRAKE. 300 m Span, 28 kN @ 15C Initial

Sensitivity to Coef. Thermal Expansion (CTE)
10.50
10.00
9.50
9.00
8.50
8.00
7.50
7.00
6.50
6.00
5.50
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Initial Final Final (CTE+10%) Final (CTE+30%)
Figure 4 - Influence of variation in the coefficient of thermal elongation on high

temperature sag.
It is clear from the discussion that, even with very careful laboratory tests and modern
calculation methods, sag calculation errors cannot be less than 100 to 200 mm and are
generally considerably greater.
Conclusions
The sag-tension calculation process, with both exact and approximate catenary equations,
is described in some detail. Three conductor elongation models are defined and the more
complex, experimentally based model is recommended because its use allows the line
designer to estimate both high temperature sags and maximum structure tension loads
with superior accuracy.
Given the prevalence of numerical calculation tools, there is little need to use the
approximate catenary equations or the simplified elastic conductor elongation models but
the ruling span assumption of tension equalization between spans appears to be
sufficiently accurate to be used in many new line designs.
Regardless of the calculation technique and conductor elongation model selected, it is
concluded that there continues to be a need for sufficient clearance buffers in the design
of new lines and the uprating of existing lines because of uncertainties in modeling the
load sequence and detailed mechanical behavior of bare stranded overhead conductors.
vi
ABSTRACT
This brochure identifies and describes the most essential elements of the sag-tension
calculation process and the various mathematical and experimental methods used to
predict sag and tension of catenaries over the whole range of conductor temperatures and
ice and wind loads that may occur over the life of a line. The goal is not to develop a
unique calculation method, but to explain the overall process and identify the alternative
modeling methods that are available.
Calculating the sag of conductors as a function of temperature and ice/wind loads and
calculating the tension that these conductors exert on supporting structures is an essential
part of the process of designing overhead power lines. The engineer is provided with a
basic explanation of the sag-tension calculation methods that are in common use
throughout the world and with a physical understanding of the processes and
mathematical relationships that underlie these methods.
KEY WORDS
AAC (Ax) - All Aluminium Conductor, ACSR (A1/Syz) - Aluminium Conductor Steel
Reinforced, Creep Plastic Elongation, Electrical Clearance, Elastic Elongation, Plastic
Elongation, Thermal Elongation, Initial Plastic Elongation, Knee-point Temperature,
Manufactured Conductor Length, Maximum Allowable Conductor Temperature, Rated
Tensile Strength (RTS), Ruling (Equivalent) Span, Stress-strain Curves, Thermal Rating,
Weight per unit length, Weight Span, Wind Span.
1
DEFINITIONS
AAAC (Ax) - All Aluminium Alloy Conductor (the x identifies the type of aluminium
ally).
AAC (Ax) - All Aluminium Conductor (the x identifies the type of aluminium ally).
ACAR (A1/Ay) - Aluminium Conductor Alloy Reinforced (the y identifies the type of
aluminium alloy used for the core wires).
ACSR (A1/Syz) - Aluminium Conductor Steel Reinforced (y represents the type of steel
and z represents the class of zinc coating on the steel core wires).
Ampacity - The maximum constant line current which will satisfy the design, security
and safety criteria of a particular line on which the conductor is installed. In this
brochure, ampacity has the same meaning as steady-state thermal rating.
Annealing - The process wherein the tensile strength of copper or aluminium wires is
reduced at sustained high temperatures, usually above 75oC and 90oC respectively.
ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials.
Creep Elongation see Elongation, Plastic
Design Loading Plastic Elongation see Elongation, Plastic
EC (grade aluminium) Electrical Conductor grade aluminium also called A1 or

1350-H19 alloy.
EHS (S3) Steel Wires - Extra High Strength steel wires for ACSR (A1/S3y).
EDS (Everyday Stress) The tension or stress that a conductor normally experiences for
most of its service life, typically at a conductor temperature of 0oC to 25oC without wind
or ice.
Electrical Clearance - The distance between energized conductors and other objects such
as conductors, structures, buildings, and earth. Minimum clearances are usually
specified by regulations.
Elongation, Elastic Bare overhead conductors elongate under tension, increasing in

length with increasing tension and decreasing in length with decreasing tension. Elastic
elongation of conductor is spring-like. The conductor returns to its original length
(unloaded length) when tension is removed.
Elongation, Plastic Aluminum strands and, to a much lesser extent, steel strands, used
in bare overhead conductors, undergo plastic (i.e. permanent) elongation as the result of
2
tension applied over time. Initial plastic conductor elongation includes strand
settlement and deformation which occurs during stringing and sagging (Initial Plastic
Elongation), plastic elongation which occurs during relatively brief, high tensile-load
events, and long-time metallurgical creep elongation which occurs at everyday tension
levels over the life of the line. Metallurgical creep of aluminum is accelerated at
sustained high temperatures (above 20oC). The components of plastic elongation are not
additive (e.g. the plastic elongation rate at high tension is less after the line has been in
place for 10 years than when the line is first installed).
Elongation, Thermal - Bare overhead conductors will expand or contract with changes in
temperature. The rate of expansion or contraction is dependent on the conductor material
and magnitude of temperature change. For ACSR conductors, the differential rates of
expansion also shift tensile load between the aluminum strands and steel core.
HS Steel (S2) - High Strength steel core wires for ACSR (A1/S2y).
I.A.C.S. or IACS - International Annealed Copper Standard.
IEC - International Electrotechnical Commission.
Initial Plastic Elongation see Elongation, Plastic
Knee-point Temperature - The conductor temperature above which the aluminium

strands of an ACSR (A1/S1A) conductor have no tension or go into compression.
Manufactured Conductor Length The conductor manufactured length as wound onto a

reel with little or no tension. Normally, for ACSR, the manufactured lengths of the
aluminum layers and the steel core are assumed to be the same (at zero tension) under
everyday temperatures of 15 to 20oC.
Maximum Allowable Conductor Temperature - The highest conductor temperature at

which an overhead power line can be safely operated (Also referred to as the line
design or templating temperature).
Rated Tensile Strength (RTS) - The calculated value of composite conductor tensile
strength, which indicates the minimum test value for stranded bare conductor. Similar
terms include Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS), Rated Breaking Strength (RBS), and
Calculated Breaking Load (CBL).
Ruling (Equivalent) Span - A hypothetical, equivalent level span length where the
variation of tension with conductor temperature or ice and wind load is the same as in a
series of contiguous suspension spans with perfect tension equalization between spans.
Stress-strain Curves These are plots of the complex relationships between mechanical
tensile stress and conductor elongation. In the simplest case, these curves are
3
approximated as linear but are commonly modeled by non-linear, higher order

polynomials.
Thermal Rating This is the maximum electrical current that can be carried in an
overhead transmission line (same meaning as ampacity) without exceeding the
Maximum Allowable Conductor Temperature.
TW conductor - A bare overhead stranded conductor wherein the aluminium strands are
trapezoidal in cross-section.
Uprating - The process by which the thermal rating of an overhead power line is
increased. While this term may also be used to refer to an increase in the operating
voltage of an existing line, in this brochure the term is limited to an increase in the
allowable current.
Weight per unit length - This brochure generally uses conductor weight per unit length.
Mass per unit length can be obtained by dividing the weight by the acceleration of
gravity (approximately 9.81 m/sec2).
Weight Span The horizontal distance between the lowest points of a conductor on
either side of the structure support.
Wind Span The sum of half the distances from a conductor support point to each of the
adjacent support points.
Worst-case weather conditions (for line rating calculation) - Weather conditions which
yield the maximum or near maximum value of conductor temperature for a given line
current.
4
TERMS
A - Aluminium coefficient of linear thermal elongation, oC-1
S - Steel coefficient of linear thermal elongation, oC-1
AS - Composite aluminium-steel coefficient of linear thermal elongation, oC-1
AS - The strain in all the strands of an ACSR conductor.
A - The strain in the aluminium strands of a stranded conductor (AAC, ACSR, etc.).
CA Total plastic elongation of aluminum strands, .
S - The strain in the steel core of an ACSR conductor.
- The total strain in any conductor including both plastic, thermal, and elastic strains,
s.
A - Conductor cross-sectional area, mm2
AA - Cross sectional area of aluminium strands, mm2
AS - Cross sectional area of steel strands, mm2
AAS - Total cross-sectional area, mm2
D Conductor sag, m
E - Modulus of elasticity of the conductor, GPa
EA - Modulus of elasticity of aluminium, GPa
ES - Modulus of elasticity of steel, GPa
EAS - Modulus of elasticity of aluminium-steel composite, GPa
H The horizontal component of tension in the conductor, N
h The vertical distance between support point elevations, m
HA - The horizontal component of the tension in the aluminium strands of an aluminum

conductor (AAC, ACSR, etc.).
HAS - The total horizontal tension in an ACSR conductor
5
HS - The horizontal component of the tension in the steel core of an ACSR conductor.
L Length of conductor between supports, m
LH - Length of conductor under horizontal tension H, m
LREF - Reference length of conductor under horizontal tension for no ice or wind load at
everyday temperature HREF, m
S Span length, m
x Horizontal distance from conductor low point to supporting structure, m
w Conductor weight per unit length, N/m
T Total or support tension in the conductor, N
6
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The goal of sag-tension calculations is to predict the catenary sags and the conductor
tensions under all design conditions of conductor temperature and ice and/or wind loads.
Maximum conductor tension is an important factor in structure design. Maximum
conductor sag largely determines structure heights and locations in order to maintain
electrical clearances throughout the life of the line. Thus both the mechanical and
electrical integrity of an overhead transmission or distribution line is directly dependent
on the accuracy of sag-tension calculations.
Sag-tension calculations are necessary when transmission lines are initially designed or if
they are subsequently modified. While there are a number of different methods available,
used by engineers in different countries, this technical brochure is intended to explain the
most common methods and to provide a clear description of the most important
assumptions underlying the common methods. This is especially important when many
utilities are no longer able to support in-house experts in the subject and when new types
of conductors are becoming commercially available.
Furthermore, given the trends in many countries toward deregulation of utilities,
increased utilization of existing assets, and the often fierce opposition to building new
lines, there is a need for increased accuracy in such calculations to avoid the possibility of
electrical clearance violations.
1.1 Conductor Naming Convention
Naming and identifying bare stranded overhead conductors can be confusing due to
different practices used by various utilities. This document will use both common
conductor names (e.g. 403mm2 26/7 Drake ACSR) and IEC conductor designations
(e.g. 403-A1/S1A-26/7) [1][2]. In either case, the designated area (e.g. 403) is that of the
conductive material in square mm. Some examples of common and IEC conductor
names are listed in Table 1.
Table 1 - Examples of Conductor Naming Methods
IEC Conductor Designation Common conductor designations

403-A1/S1A-54/7 403mm2 ACSR 54/7 (Condor)
523-A1/S1A-42/7 523mm2 ACSR 42/7 (Snowbird)
403-A1/S1A-26/7 403mm2 ACSR 26/7 (Drake)
685-A1-61 685mm2, 61 strand, AAC (Columbine)
1.2 The Catenary Clearance Envelope

The energized conductors of transmission and distribution lines must be installed in a
manner that minimizes the possibility of injury to people, flashovers to other conductors,
and to inanimate objects such as buildings, whether below or adjacent to the line. Self-
supporting overhead conductors elongate with time, with increasing temperature and with
ice and wind loads; any such conductor elongation increases the sag of the conductor
which may decrease the clearance to objects or people. Under all foreseeable conditions,
despite the effects of weather and variations in electrical loading, the lines conductors
7
must remain at safe distances from people, other conductors, vehicles, buildings, and any
other reasonably anticipated activities.
To ensure safe minimum electrical clearances under all conditions, the height and lateral
position of the conductor between support points must be calculated for all wind, ice and
temperature conditions which the conductor may experience. These calculations are
commonly referred to as sag-tension calculations and are the subject of this brochure.
Transmission line supporting structures are typically spaced a few hundred meters apart.
This distance between supports is called the span length. Under most conditions, the
flexural and torsional rigidity of stranded conductors can be neglected. Hence, the only
conductor stresses that affect the sag between the conductor support points are axial
tensile stresses along the wires.
Span Length
Initial Installed Sag @15C
Final Unloaded Sag @15C
Sag @Max Ice/Wind Load
Sag @Max Electrical Load

- Tmax
Minimum Electrical
Clearance
GROUND LEVEL
Figure 5 Catenary variation with conductor temperature, ice & wind loads, and
time after installation where Tmax is the maximum conductor temperature.
It has been mathematically demonstrated that a suspended bare cable, when subjected to
uniform loading per unit length, takes the form of a catenary between support points. The
shape of the catenary curve, changes with temperature (thermal elongation), ice and wind
8
loading (design loading plastic elongation), and time (creep plastic elongation), as shown
in Figure 5.
9
2.0 THE CATENARY

The shape of a catenary is a function of the conductor weight per unit length, w, and the
horizontal component of tension, H. The sag of the conductor, D, is a function of these
parameters, the span length, S, and the difference in elevation between the span support
points.
2.1 Catenary and parabolic solutions for sag in level spans
Conductor sag and span length are illustrated in Figure 6 for a level span. More detail is
provided in [3,4,5,6,7,8,9]
H/w
X axis
Figure 6 - The Catenary Curve for Level Spans
The catenary equation for a conductor between supports at equal heights or at different
heights is the same. It is expressed in terms of the horizontal distance, x, from the vertex
(or low point) of the catenary to a point on the catenary which is y(x) above the vertex.
The catenary equation is given by:
2
w x
y ( x) =
H
cosh 1 w x (1)
w H 2 H
The expression on the right side of equation (1) is an approximate parabolic equation
based upon the first term of the MacLaurin expansion of the hyperbolic cosine. The
approximate parabolic equation is valid as long as x2 w2/12H2 << 1.
10
For a level span, the low point is in the center, and the sag, D, is found by substituting x =
S/2 in the preceding equations. The exact catenary and approximate parabolic equations
for sag become the following:
H wS wS
2
D = cosh 1 (2)
w 2 H 8 H
The approximate parabolic equation (2) is valid as long as w2 S2 / 48 H2<< 1 . Hence, it

is usually not valid for long, steep, nor deep spans such as may be found in river, lake or
fjord crossings. On the other hand, one can readily see the relationship between sag,
tension, weight per unit length and span length in the approximate equation (e.g. Sag, D,
is proportional to the square of the span length, S).
The ratio, H/w, which appears in all of the preceding equations, is commonly referred to
as the catenary constant or catenary parameter. An increase in the catenary constant
causes the catenary curve to become shallower and the sag to decrease. Although it
varies with conductor temperature, ice and wind loading, and time, the catenary constant
typically has a value in the range of 500-2000 m for most transmission line catenaries
under most conditions.
The following sample calculations are made using 403mm2, 26/7 ACSR (403-A1/S1A
26/7) Drake conductor. If not otherwise specified, the properties of the conductor, the
assumed span length, and the horizontal component of tension, H, are:
1. Aluminium area = 402.8 mm2
2. Total area (aluminium and steel core) = 468.5 mm2
3. Weight per unit length = 15.97 N/m
4. RTS = 140 kN
5. Span length = 300 m
6. Horizontal component of tension = 20% of RTS = 28 kN.
7. Conductor temperature = 15oC
Under these conditions the sag of the span, according to equation 2, is:
28000 15.97 300

D= cosh 1 = 6.420m
15.97 2 28000
Using the approximate parabolic equation, the sag is:
15.97 3002
D= = 6.417m
8 28000
In this particular case, the difference is calculated sag is only 3 mm. Since it is unlikely
that the sag can be measured with an accuracy of less than 100 mm, the difference is
negligible.
11
The horizontal component of tension, H, is the same at all points within the catenary.
The total conductor tension is equal to H at the point in the catenary where the conductor
slope is horizontal (for a level span, this is the midpoint of the span) but, as shown in
section 2.4, the total tension increases as one approaches the support points.
2.2 Total Conductor Length.
Application of calculus to the catenary equation allows the determination of conductor
length, L(x), measured along the conductor from the low point of the catenary in either
direction as a function of x.
The equation for conductor length between supports is:
H w x x 2 w2
L( x) = sinh x 1 + (3)
w H 6 H 2
For a level span, the conductor length corresponding to half of the total conductor length
is at the spans midpoint (X = S/2), thus:
S 2H S w S 2 w2
L = 2 L( x = )= sinh S
24 H 2
1 + (4)
2 w 2H
The parabolic equation for the total conductor length can also be expressed as a function
of sag, D, by substitution of the sag parabolic equation (2):
8 D2
LS+ (5)
3 S
For the example calculation, the exact total conductor length is:
2 28000 300 15.97
L= sinh = 300.366 m
15.97 2 28000
The parabolic approximation gives the same conductor length of 300.366 m. Note that
the total conductor length is only 0.366 m (about 0.1%) longer than the horizontal span
length of 300 m.
2.3 Conductor Slack

Conductor slack is the difference between the total conductor length, L, and the chord
distance between supports. For a level span the distance between supports is the span
length, S. Equating and rearranging the preceding exact equations for L and S, the slack
(L-S) for the example problem is:
2H wS
LS = sinh S (7)
w 2H
While slack has units of length, it may also be expressed as a percentage of the span
length. In the preceding example calculation, the exact length of the conductor was
found to be 300.366 m and the slack is 0.366 m (i.e. 0.122 % of the span length).
12
As noted previously, the parabolic (approximate) equations offer some additional insight
into the interaction of slack, span length, and tension that the exact equations do not. For
a level span:
w2 8
L S S 3 D2
2 (8)
24 H 3 S
From this equation, one can see that slack is approximately proportional to the 3rd power
of span length. Thus for a series of suspension spans having the same horizontal tension,
H, the slack of a 400 m span is eight times as large as the slack in a 200 m span. As
shown later in this brochure, the cubic dependence of slack on span length is the reason
sag-tension behavior of multiple suspension spans is largely determined by the longest
spans.
The approximate equation for slack can also be inverted to obtain equations showing the
dependence of sag, D, and tension, H, upon slack, L-S:
3 S (L S)
D
8
wS S
H
2 6 (L S )
Clearly, as the slack of the span becomes very small, the conductor sag approaches zero
and the tension becomes very large.
To illustrate the impact of small changes in slack on tension and sag, consider the
preceding 300 m level span example of Drake, 403mm2, 26/7 ACSR (403-A1/S1A-26/7)
conductor with 0.366m of slack. If only 100 mm is added to the total conductor length,
the sag and tension are approximately equal to:
3 300 (0.366 + 0.1)

D= = 7.241 m
8
15.97 300 300

H= = 24.8 kN
2 6 (0.366 + 0.1)
Ignoring for the moment any change in length with tension in this example, adding 100
mm to the conductor length yields an 800 mm change in sag and a 13 % reduction in
tension (3.2 kN). The slack concept is thus very useful in explaining how very small
changes in conductor length such as those caused by thermal, elastic or plastic
elongation, have major effects on the sag of overhead line spans.
Given span length, S, and conductor weight per unit length, w, the exact catenary
relationship between slack (and length) and horizontal tension, H, is found with equation
(7) and the exact relationship between sag and tension is found with equation (2). For the
sample problem described previously, with a span length of 300 m, the bare Drake
13
A1/S1A conductor is installed with a horizontal tension component of 28 kN which

equals a conductor stress of 69.5 MPa given the conductor crossectional area of 402.9
mm2 and corresponds to a sag of 6.4 m. The variation of sag and conductor stress with %
slack (100 * slack) is shown in Figure 7.
200.0 15.0
180.0 13.5
160.0 12.0
STRESS [H/A]
140.0 10.5
SAG [D]
Stress- MPa
120.0 9.0
Sag - m
100.0 7.5
6.4
80.0 6.0
69.5
60.0 4.5
40.0 3.0
20.0 1.5
0.0 0.122 0.0

0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5
% Slack [100*(L-S)/S]
Figure 7 Catenary Stress (H/A) and Sag (D) vs. %Slack (100*(L-S)/S) for Bare
Drake ACSR in a 300 m span at a tension of 20% RTS (69.5 MPa) at 15C
Looking to later discussions in this brochure, note the following about this plot:
1. Any increase in conductor length (% slack) yields a reduction in stress and an
increase in sag.
2. A similar pair of curves can be plotted for other conductor weights per unit length
due to ice and wind pressure.
3. Conductor plastic, elastic and thermal elongation curves can be plotted with the
same horizontal axis if it is noted that marginal change in % slack ((L-S)/S) is
essentially the same as marginal change in % elongation ((L-Lo)/Lo).
2.4 Total and Horizontal Tension

As noted previously, at the low point of the catenary, the conductor tension is equal to the
horizontal component of tension. At every other location within the span, including the
end supports, the total conductor tension is greater than the horizontal component.
For a level span, at the supports, the vertical component of tension is equal to half the
weight of the conductor:
14
wS
V = w L / 2 = H sinh
2 H
At the end supports, the total tension is the vector sum of the horizontal and vertical
tension components:
wL 2
T2 = H2 +( )
2
Substituting the equation for length, L, from section 2.2, and taking the square root of
both sides of this equation, we obtain:
wS wS
T = H 1 + sinh 2 = H cosh
2H 2H
To relate the total tension to the sag in this level span, the equation can be rearranged as:
wS
T = H + H cosh H
2H
H wS H
T = H + w cosh
w 2H w
Substituting equation (2) for sag, we have:
T = H + wD
Given the conditions in the preceding example calculation for a 300 m level span of 403-
A1/S1A-26/7 (ACSR) Drake, the total conductor tension at the attachment points, T, is
28.0 kN and exceeds the horizontal component of tension H by only 102 N (0.36%)
T = 28000 + 15.97 * 6.420 = 28000 N + 102 N
The approximate (parabolic) catenary curve equations are useful for order of
magnitude checks and provide more insight into the physics of sag-tension (e.g. sag is
dependent on the square of span length) but there is little advantage to their use in
numerical calculations. For most cases, except those of long and deep catenaries, the
difference between the exact and approximate solutions is small. As shown in Figure 8,
the difference in calculated catenary position, y(x), as a function of x is quite small for
horizontal distances up to about 300 m (equivalent to a level span of 600m). For a 500 m
horizontal distance (1000 m level span), however, the sag error is about 0.5 m.
15
Comparison of Exact Catenary & Parabolic Approximation
y exact y par y diff
100 2.0
90 1.8
80 1.6
Error in Parabolic Sag Approx - m

Y(X) [sag for level spans] - m
70 1.4
60 1.2
50 1.0
40 0.8
30 0.6
20 0.4
Difference in calculated y(x)
10 0.2
0 0.0
0 100 200 300 400 500
Horizontal Distance (S/2 for level spans) - m
Figure 8 - Comparison of catenary y(x) and difference between exact and

parabolic approximate solution as a function of x for ACSR Drake at a tension of
28020 N.
2.5 Engineering accuracy of sag calculations

In practical line design engineering, several factors limit the accuracies that can be
achieved in sag calculations, unless extraordinary measures are taken to correct
seemingly minor error sources. Some of the basic error sources include:
1. Uncertain weight of the conductor - The nominal values for conductor weight
corresponds to the minimum acceptable weight. In reality, the weight of the
conductor typically exceeds the nominal value by 0.2% to 0.6%. During a
conductors life, the conductors mass typically increases slightly by tarnishing
effects. Also, the weight of a wet conductor can exceed the dry-weight by 1.5% to
2.5%.
2. End of span effects - The catenary equations assume that the conductor is fully
flexible. If the bending stiffness of the conductor is taken into account, the actual
sag in spans supported in suspension clamps is found to be less than that of
catenary calculations. If the ends of the span in the prior example consist of 30
cm long suspension clamps, the effect of the suspension clamp and the bending
stiffness changes the length of the effective catenary to 299.37 m and reduces the
sag from 6.41 m to 6.38 m, i.e. a reduction of 0.4%. If the suspension clamps are
16
equipped with armor rods, the sag reduces to 6.35 m, i.e. a reduction of 0.9%.
Conversely, if both ends of the span are terminated into dead-end insulator
strings, the sags increase. If both ends of the example span are terminated in 2m
long insulator strings, with a total mass of 100 kg each, the sag increases from
6.41 m to 6.45 m (i.e. a sag increase of 0.5%). The use of composite insulators
would yield a smaller sag increase.
3. Flexibility of structures - Changes in conductor tension at angle and dead-end

strain structures causes elastic and inelastic structure deflections. If the resulting
deflection of a dead-end structure in the preceding example is 1 cm, the sag
increases from 6.41 m to 6.49 m, i.e. a change of 1.2%. Pole structures may
deflect considerably more than steel lattice.
Other lesser effects, such as survey errors, also occur. In combination with those cited
above, such uncertainties yield a typical sag calculation error of 1% to 2% for even the
simplest single span line.
As is discussed in Section 7, there are additional errors in sag-tension estimates due to
uncertainties regarding the elastic, plastic, and thermal elongation of the bare concentric
stranded aluminium conductors typically used in overhead power lines.
2.6 Effect of change in conductor loading per unit length
Overhead power lines, particularly during periods of low electrical current, can
accumulate ice and snow under certain atmospheric conditions. This increases the
loading per unit length of the bare overhead conductor. Also, wind blowing across the
line increases the loading per unit length. Wind forces can occur during times when the
conductor is iced and hence the resulting conductor loading is the vector sum of wind
force on the iced conductor, the weight of the ice and the weight of the bare conductor.
17
Figure 9 - Heavy radial ice buildup on a relatively small bare overhead conductor.
If the conductor is inextensible, then the increase in loading per unit length due to ice and
wind load would increase the tension but there would be no change in conductor length,
thus leaving the sag unchanged. However, bare overhead conductors do elongate under
tension load and, depending on the mechanical response characteristics of the conductor,
both the tension in the conductor and its length (sag) change during ice accretion and/or
high wind events.
2.7 Inclined spans
For inclined spans (see Figure 10), if the span is divided into two sections, one to the
right and the other to the left of the low point, the catenary equations introduced
previously may be used to determined the conductor position and tension. The shape of
the catenary, relative to the semi-span position (i.e. low point) is not affected by the
difference in suspension point elevation (span inclination), h.
In each direction (i.e. for xL or xR) from the low point of the catenary, the conductor
elevation, y(x), relative to the low point is given by equation (1):
H w x w x
2
y( x) = cosh 1
w H 2H
And the sags relative to the supports are:
DL = DR + h (9)
18
Of course, as shown in Figure 10, the low point is not in the center of the horizontal span
as for a level span. In fact the low point may even be beyond the end of the span
depending on the difference in support elevations or conductor catenary constant.
DR
Figure 10 - Sag-tension for inclined spans.
The position of the low point in the inclined span may be calculated exactly by the
equation:

S H h/2
x R = sinh 1
2 w H sinh S / 2
w H / w (10)
Consider the following example, where:

H = 28 kN
h = 10 m
S = 300 m
w = 15.96 N/m
H/w = 28000/15.96 = 1754 m
Then the example calculation becomes;

300 10 / 2
xR = 1754 sinh 1 = 91.6m
2 1754 sinh 300 / 2

1754
The elevation of any point in the inclined span can be calculated using the basic catenary
equation with x being the horizontal distance from the low point, which for the example
is 91.6 m into the span from the right support and 208.4 m from the left.
19
In the example span, as the difference in support heights increases, the low point of the
catenary moves further toward the low support, eventually going beyond it as shown in
the following table:
Table 2 - Sag & Vertical force in a 300 m inclined span with Drake ACSR at H =
28000 N.
h [m] 0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00 35.00 40.00
Xr [m] 150.00 120.80 91.60 62.42 33.27 4.15 -24.93 -53.97 -82.95
Xl [m] 150.00 179.20 208.40 237.58 266.73 295.85 324.93 353.97 382.95
Dr [m] 6.42 4.16 2.39 1.11 0.32 0.00 0.18 0.83 1.96
Dl [m] 6.42 9.16 12.39 16.11 20.32 25.00 30.18 35.83 41.96
Vr [N] 2397 1929 1463 996 531 66 -398 -861 -1324
Vl [N] 2397 2865 3334 3803 4273 4744 5216 5688 6161
Tr [N] 28102 28066 28038 28018 28005 28000 28003 28013 28031
Tl [N] 28102 28146 28198 28257 28324 28399 28482 28572 28670
With reference to Table 2, notice the following:

- As the difference in elevation increases from 0 to 45m, the vertical force at the
left support increases from 2397 N to 6161 N and the downward vertical force on
the right support becomes negative (uplift).
- The total tension never exceeds the horizontal component by more than 2.4%.
- When the difference in elevation equals slightly more than 25 m, the low point
occurs at the right support point.
- At greater differences in elevation, the low point position of the catenary occurs
beyond the right support point.
20
3.0 MODELING MECHANICALLY COUPLED

SPANS
Transmission lines are usually comprised of multiple line sections. Each line section is
terminated at each end by a strain structure that allows no longitudinal movement of the
conductor attachment points as shown in Figure 11. Note that the insulator strings in this
structure experience the full tension of the conductor and that the point at the end of the
insulator string, where the conductor is attached, is not free to move in the direction of
the line.
Figure 11 - Typical strain angle structure used to terminate a transmission line

section.
Between such strain structures, tangent suspension structures are used. A typical tangent
suspension structure is shown in Figure 12. Here the insulators are free to move both
transversely and longitudinally to the line. Any modest difference in conductor tension
between adjacent spans would result in a movement of the bottom of the insulator string
and an equalization of the tensions between the spans.
Given the free longitudinal movement of the attachment points at each tangent
suspension structure, the horizontal component of the conductor tension in all the spans
in a line section is approximately equal. This simplifies the sagging of conductor after
stringing. Since the horizontal tension is equal in each span, the sag is simply
proportional to the square of the tangent span length. Some suspension structure supports
allow only free longitudinal movement (V-strings) but restrict movement transversely to
the line.
21
Figure 12 - Typical suspension structure

Post-type insulators only allow limited longitudinal and transverse motion at support
points due to flexing of the insulators and of the structures themselves (wood and steel
pole structures flex more than steel lattice structures).
3.1 Mechanical Equilibrium at Suspension Points
In a practical transmission line, it is neither possible nor necessary to make all span
lengths equal.
During stringing of conductor [10] and subsequent sagging, stringing blocks (pulleys) are
attached to the bottom of the suspension insulators. In level terrain, the sagging tension
in all spans is approximately equal and sags in each span are simply proportional to the
span length squared as shown in equation (2). In uneven terrain, the unequal inclination
angle of the conductor at adjacent spans requires the calculation of sag adjustments and
clipping offsets.
Once the sag is adjusted, the blocks removed, and the conductor clamped (clipped) to the
end of the insulator, changes in conductor temperature or load per unit length will yield
different tensions in each span. Small movements of the suspension points, however,
equalize the tension between spans. For example, consider Figure 13 which shows the
tension difference that develops between an adjacent 250m and 350m span without
insulator swing when the tension in each span is equal at 15oC.
22
Variation in tension with conductor temperature in 250m

and 350m uncoupled spans
55000
50000
Conductor Tension - N
45000
40000
35000
30000
25000
20000
-40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100
Conductor Temperature - degC
H(N) in 250m Span H(N) in 350m Span
Figure 13 - Conductor Tension Variation with Temperature for 250m and 350m
"Dead end" Spans of Drake A1/S1A (ACSR) installed to 35 kN at 15oC.
The longitudinal movement required of the insulator string in order to equalize tension in
adjacent spans is usually very small. However, when the spans are sharply inclined or
the conductor tension is very low, the typical suspension insulator configuration may not
be able to fully equalize tensions. The amount of insulator tilt can be calculated by
summing the force moments about the insulator attachment point as shown Figure 14.
23
Pivot
Attachment
Point
Tilt
Angle
T
Winsul
Insulator
Length, Li
Hspan1 Hspan2
Wspan1
Wspan2
Figure 14 - Moment Forces acting on a ceramic, glass, or composite Insulator

Suspension String
Based upon the moment force balance illustrated in Figure 14, for a 1.8 m long insulator
string weighing 890 N, with a bare Drake conductor having a total weight span (Wspan1
+ Wspan2) of 300m (a vertical conductor weight of 4791 N), Figure 15 shows that only
modest force is required to move the insulator string out of plumb.
Reading from Figure 15, a horizontal movement of only 20 cm (i.e. a tilt angle of 6.3
degrees) is enough to equalize a span to span conductor tension difference of 580 N.
24
1000
900
800
Horizontal force - Newtons
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00 35.00
Longitudinal movement - cm
Figure 15 Unbalanced horizontal tension vs. horizontal deflection for a 1.8m
long Insulator String weighing 890N supporting a 300m weight-span of Drake
ACSR.
Table 3 (and Figure 13) shows the variation in tension with temperature for 250m and
350m dead-end spans of Drake conductor, each strung to an initial tension of 35kN at
15oC. From the top row of Table 3 one can see that, at 100oC, the difference in
longitudinal conductor tensions between the 250m and 350m dead-end spans would be
approximately 3.5 kN. If the spans are adjacent, and the dead-end between them is
replaced with the suspension insulator described in Figure 15, a horizontal movement of
68 mm is sufficient to reduce the tension difference from 3500 N to 197 N (see the
shaded row of Table 3).
Table 3 Resultant Force between 250m and 350m dead-end spans of ACSR
Drake at 100oC
Sag Sag L-S L-S Tension Tension Long. Insul
Longitudinal 100C 100C Slack Slack @100C @100C Tension Long.
Swing 250m 350m 250m 350m 250m 350m Diff Force
m m m m m N N N N
0 5.89 9.91 0.3700 0.7483 21177 24670 -3493 0
0.02 5.73 10.04 0.3500 0.7683 21774 24347 -2573 58
0.04 5.56 10.17 0.3300 0.7883 22424 24036 -1612 116
0.05 5.48 10.24 0.3200 0.7983 22772 23885 -1113 145
0.06 5.39 10.30 0.3100 0.8083 23136 23737 -601 174
0.062 5.37 10.31 0.3080 0.8103 23211 23707 -496 180
0.064 5.36 10.33 0.3060 0.8123 23287 23678 -392 186
0.066 5.34 10.34 0.3040 0.8143 23363 23649 -286 191
0.067 5.33 10.34 0.3030 0.8153 23402 23635 -233 194
0.068 5.32 10.35 0.3020 0.8163 23440 23620 -180 197
25
Note that when initially plumb, the effect of small insulator swings (e.g. 0.0 to 0.02 m) on
the moment due to tension difference (e.g. 3493 N to 2573 N) is much greater than the
increase in restoring force due to insulator swing (e.g. 0 to 58 N). Any final residual
tension imbalance will be due only to the force provided by the insulator swing.
3.2 Ruling Span Sag-tension Calculations

In an overhead line, a typical line section can consist of as few as one and as many as
40 or 50 suspension spans (depending on the utility design philosophy) between dead-end
strain structures.
If all of the suspension spans were the same length and reasonably level, and all were
subject to the same ice and wind loads, then the sag and tension change with ice and wind
and conductor temperature would be the same for all spans. Sag-tension calculations for
any one of the suspension spans would apply to all, the tension and sag variation in each
suspension span would be similar, and there would be little or no movement of the
suspension strings between spans.
In most line sections, however, the suspension spans vary in length (though typically not
over a large range), the sag and tension variation with ice, wind, and temperature changes
in each span is different (e.g. see Figure 13), and the suspension insulators do not remain
plumb. To solve this complex coupled mechanical system, sag-tension calculations must
be performed for each span, the suspension point supports modeled mechanically, and the
sag-tension variation in each span determined by numerical analysis. This exact
calculation of sag-tension for multiple, mechanically coupled suspension spans, is
certainly possible in this age of digital computers, but it may not always be necessary.
As an alternative to the exact solution for sag-tension in a line section consisting of two
or more reasonably level suspension spans, sag-tension calculations can be performed for
a single ruling span (also called equivalent span) [11, 12]. The ruling span method is
possible because of the efficient tension equalization that occurs naturally at suspension
points, as described in the preceding section of this brochure. The ruling span tension
variation with ice and wind loading, time, and conductor temperature is essentially the
same as the tension variation for any span of the line section, and the sag variation is
proportional to the suspension span over ruling span length squared.
The ruling span is defined by equation (11):
Where:
3 3 3
S1 + S 2 + - - - - + S n
RS =
S1 + S 2 + - - - - + S n
(11)
RS = Ruling span for the line section containing n suspension spans

S1 = Span length of first suspension span
S2 = Span length of second suspension span
26
Sn = Span length of nth suspension span
Note from equation (11) that the value of the ruling span is greatly influenced by the
longest spans since the numerator depends on the cube of span length.
Since the tension in all of the suspension spans is equal (or nearly so), once the sag and
tension for a ruling span has been calculated, the sag in any of the corresponding
suspension spans can be calculated as follows:
2
S
Di = D RS i (12)
S RS
Of course, suspension insulators do not allow complete tension equalization between

adjacent spans of different length. However, as shown in Section 3.1, the tension
difference is usually acceptably small. The concept works well for the calculation of
stringing sags, which permit sag measurements on a few selected spans to be adequate for
initial conductor sagging.
Consider two spans where the support between them is rigid or longitudinally flexible.
The three cases shown in Table 4 are: (1) The support between the spans is rigid (spans
mechanically independent); (2) The support between the spans moves freely in the
longitudinal direction (ruling span approach); (3) The support point is at the end of a 1.8
m, 890 N insulator and the tension equalization is calculated exactly, accounting for
insulator swing moments.
Table 4 - Comparison of sag-tension for two spans which are mechanically

independent, perfectly coupled, and coupled with actual tension inequality.
Case 1 Two dead- Case 2 Two Case 3 Two
end spans suspension spans suspension spans
with perfect tension with actual tension
equalization imbalance at
supports
Span [m] 250 350 250 350 250 350
Sag @100C [m] 7.7 13.0 6.9 13.6 7.0 13.5
Tension @100C [kN] 17.1 19.9 19.0 19.0 18.8 19.0
In Case 3, the insulator string has swung 1.7 degrees toward the longer span at 100oC.
Note that the errors in the ruling span approach (perfect tension equalization) are modest.
A recent technical paper [13] provides some guidance concerning line conditions in
which sag errors resulting from the ruling span concept may become significant. The
conclusion of the reference is that errors are modest except in those line designs where
there are relatively large variations in span length and where the conductors are operated
at temperatures above 100oC.
27
4.0 CONDUCTOR TENSION LIMITS

Sag-tension calculations, with or without the ruling span approximation, are normally
done numerically. Constraints on maximum tension and maximum sag are typically
applied for several loading conditions. The user is also allowed to enter multiple ice and
wind loading and conductor temperature conditions. The conductor elongation
(consisting of thermal, plastic and elastic components) is considered in the calculation.
This section of the brochure discusses how tension constraints are selected and why they
are an important part of any sag-tension calculations.
4.1 Conductor tension limits under high ice and wind loading
Limits on conductor tension can be expressed as a percentage of the conductors rated
tensile strength ( RTS), as a conductor tension value, or as a catenary constant (H/w).
Under high ice and wind loading, the conductor tension increases and, unless constrained
by design, the conductors or supporting structures (plus splices and dead-end fittings)
may fail.
To avoid failure under high ice and wind loading, the conductors initial unloaded tension
at the time of construction or reconductoring, is usually limited to a modest value (Table
5).
Table 5 Sag-tension for maximum ice and wind load and for high temperature
shown as a function of initial stringing tension for a 300m span of Drake ACSR.
Initial Max. design Max. design
unloaded tension under ice tension under ice Initial Sag at Final Sag at
tension at 15oC and wind load and wind load 15oC 100oC
[%RTS] [%RTS] [kN] [m] [m]
10 22.6 31.6 12.9 14.6
15 31.7 44.4 8.6 11.0
20 38.4 53.8 6.4 9.4
25 43.5 61.0 5.1 8.4
Table 5 shows typical results of sag-tension calculations as a function of the initial

installed stringing tension. The conductor is 403mm2, 26/7 ACSR (403-A1/S1A-26/7)
Drake, the ruling span is 300 m, and the ice and wind load conditions are 12.5 mm radial
glaze ice with a 380 Pa wind at -20oC. The difference between initial and final sags is
estimated on the basis of plastic creep elongation calculations.
The maximum conductor and structure tension loads increase with increasing initial
installed tension, while the sag decreases. To avoid conductor tensile failure under high
ice and wind loads, the conductor tension under maximum ice and wind is usually limited
to 50% - 60% of RTS.
Typical values accepted internationally, as well as in IEC 60826, are as follows:
50 to 75% RTS under maximum climatic heavy load conditions;
20 to 30% RTS with no ice or wind at 15oC when the conductor is initially
installed under tension;
28
15 to 25% RTS with no ice or wind at 15oC the conductor being in its final
condition (after the conductor has been exposed to a heavy ice and wind loading
event or has been in place for many years.)
Notice that, while limiting the initial unloaded conductor tension limits subsequent
maximum conductor and structure loads (e.g. see Table 5), unloaded tension constraints
are primarily imposed to limit aeolian vibration to manageable levels. While limiting
initial and final unloaded tensions to certain ranges of %RTS is common as a means of
vibration control, recent work by CIGRE WG B2.11 suggests that limiting the catenary
constant (H/w) for the coldest month is better. This is discussed briefly in the following
section.
4.2 Avoiding Aeolian Vibration Fatigue
Historically, as noted above, a common design practice used to avoid conductor fatigue,
due to aeolian vibration, was to limit the unloaded tension to 15% to 25% of RTS.
Specifying an unloaded %RTS value at everyday conditions does not consider the
following important fatigue endurance issues:
The effect of persistency of wind speed and direction relative to the line section;
Terrain covers of trees, shrubs and buildings and the terrain itself, which can have
a marked effect on the degree of wind turbulence;
Short-span construction with high tensions at low-temperature operation, where
significant damage may occur during months of winter temperatures;
The effect of conductor stranding and the percentage of steel in ACSR, which
influences effects on mass and strength.
CIGRE WG B2.11 has suggested a better approach where the tension control parameter
is tension-over-weight (H/w). The H/w parameter is more closely related to aluminium
stress, and therefore to the self-damping properties of the conductor. Three papers [14,
15, 16] have been published concerning single undamped conductors, damped single
conductors, and bundled conductors, respectively. In these papers, the H/w parameter is
justified and other influences such as span length and terrain are considered.
For unprotected round strand, single conductors (no armor rods, dampers, nor AGS
clamps), the recommended maximum values of H/w range from 1000 to 1425 m under
initial unloaded low temperature conditions [14]. As can be seen in Table 6, for Drake
ACSR in a 300 m span, this acceptable range of H/w values where dampers are not used,
corresponds to an unloaded initial tension of between 10% and 15% RTS at 15C.
If dampers are used, then a higher H/w level would likely be acceptable, but the WG
B2.11 references repeatedly make the point that avoiding conductor fatigue from aeolian
vibration over the entire life of an overhead line can be complex. Terrain, span length,
annual weather variation, conductor design, and external damping must all be considered.
Simply choosing an installed unloaded tension in %RTS is not usually sufficient.
29
Table 6 - H/w limits on unloaded conductor tension - Drake ACSR in a 300 m span.
Initial unloaded Tension at -
Initial, unloaded H/w at average 20oC with Tension at
conductor temp. for coldest max ice and max ice and Final sag
tension at 15oC month) wind load wind load at 100oC
[%RTS] [m] [%RTS] [kN] [m]
10 900 22.6 31.6 14.6
15 1500 31.7 44.4 11.0
20 2100 38.4 53.8 9.4
25 2700 43.5 61.0 8.4
30
5.0 CONDUCTOR ELONGATION - ELASTIC,

PLASTIC, AND THERMAL
As shown in section 2.3, relatively small changes in the length of suspended overhead
conductors can cause rather large changes in sag. A change of only 0.1 m in the length of
a 300 m long conductor can change the sag by nearly 1 m. Small amounts of elastic,
plastic, or thermal elongation yield the same result: a longer conductor, and relatively
large changes in sag.
Most power line conductors consist of concentric stranded aluminium wires reinforced
with a stranded steel wire core (ACSR or A1/Syz) although all aluminium and all
aluminium alloy conductors (AAC and AAAC) are also in common use. In comparing
the various methods of sag-tension calculation used in countries and utilities around the
world, the working group noted large differences in how conductor elongation was
calculated for changes in conductor temperature, tension, and time, yet only minor
differences in the modeling of catenaries and in the modeling of span coupling of
suspension spans.
5.1 Overview of Conductor Elongation Models
As explained in Section 6 of this document, the sag and tension of a given span or line
section can be calculated as a function of conductor temperature and ice/wind loads by
equating the catenary length to the conductor length. This is normally done numerically
although it is explained graphically.
At the time of installation, the conductor sag or tension is measured with the conductor
unloaded at a known temperature. Sag and tension typically change as: (a) the conductor
weight increases due to ice and wind loading; (b) the conductor temperature changes due
to changes in air temperature, solar heating and electrical current; and (c) as the
conductors aluminium layers elongate plastically over time or with design ice and wind
loading.
In order to calculate the sag and tension under various loading, temperature, and time
conditions, one must be able to model the change in conductor length due to each factor.
Once the various conductor elongation models are known, then the tension can be found
at which the total conductor length, L, of loaded conductor equals the sum of the original
length (unloaded length) and any plastic, thermal and elastic changes in length due to
changes in tension, time, loading, and temperature.
Clearly, the methods of sag-tension calculation are a function of the conductor elongation
models. If conductor elongation, due to changes in temperature and tension, is
represented by simple linear elongation models, sag-tension can be determined quite
simply. If plastic conductor elongation is represented by typical values based on field
experience, then the sag-tension calculation method is only marginally more complex,
but if plastic conductor elongation is calculated based on non-linear equations which
depend on high tension load events and time, then sag-tension calculations become quite
complex and must be done graphically or numerically[17].
Although the working group investigated a great variety of sag-tension calculation
methods, we were able to classify the different sag-tension calculation methods into one
31
of three reasonably distinct approaches to modeling conductor elongation. These three

approaches are summarized as follows:
Linear Elastic (LE) Model Overhead conductors are modeled as linear springs
with a single elastic modulus and a single coefficient of thermal elongation. An
effective elastic modulus and effective coefficient of thermal elongation must be
calculated for non-homogeneous conductors (e.g. ACSR). Typical values of
modulus and CTE are used.
Simplified Plastic Elongation (SPE) Model Overhead conductors are modeled
as linear springs. Plastic conductor elongation is calculated by adding a typical
permanent change in length (usually expressed as an equivalent temperature
change). The amount of plastic elongation is based on experience rather than on
laboratory tests or design loads.
Normally, the conductor elastic modulus and coefficient of thermal elongation are
single valued but for non-homogeneous conductors such as ACSR (A1/S1A), the
different tensions in the aluminum layers and steel core can be calculated for the
typical plastic elongation but the variation with design loading cannot. For high
conductor temperatures, a typical knee-point temperature can be calculated but
any dependence on conductor type, design load, and span length cannot.
The excessively high initial loaded tensions that result from ignoring the initial
non-linear behavior of the aluminium layers are usually reduced by experienced
engineers or used as an additional safety margin in structure design.
Experimental Plastic Elongation (EPE) Model Overhead conductors are
modeled as non-linear springs that elongate elastically as a function of tension,
plastically as a function of tension and time, and thermally as a function of
temperature. The non-linear behavior of steel core and aluminum layers can be
modeled separately for ACSR (A1/SA1). Plastic elongation is calculated based
on laboratory tests of stranded conductors. For non-homogeneous conductors, the
elongation of each component (e.g. steel and aluminum) is calculated separately.
Plastic elongation of the conductor due to settling, creep elongation, and
permanent elongation due to high tension loads is calculated for an assumed
series of loading events over the life of the line. For A1/Syz conductors at high
temperature, the bi-linear thermal elongation and any aluminium compression
effects are calculated as a function of assumed loading history.
Clearly, there are many variations on these three elongation models. For example,
though the calculation methods differ considerably in detail, both the strain-summation
and the Varney graphical calculation methods utilize similar experimental conductor data
and thus may be considered to be variations on the EPE model.
Similarly, in estimating typical plastic elongation in the SPE elongation model, the
assumed plastic elongation will vary considerably based on the experience and judgment
of engineers in different countries, using different line designs, in various types of terrain.
Nonetheless, in each application, the plastic elongation is based upon experience and not
upon laboratory experiments and loading assumptions.
32
Long-time
or high
Elastic tension
Settlement Thermal Tensile
& strand plastic
Strain Strain Strain
Manufactured Length deformat'n
Strain
Figure 16 - Elongation diagram of stranded conductor in a catenary.
With reference to Figure 16:

- The LE model ignores settlement & strand deformation as well as long-time or
high tension plastic strain (though such plastic elongation may be allowed for by
the use of large clearance buffers).
- The SPE model ignores the settlement and strand deformation that occur during
initial tensioning of conductor but account for long-time or high tension creep
plastic elongation by using a typical value of plastic conductor elongation (often
expressed as a temperature adder).
- The EPE elongation model allows the engineer to calculate both settlement &
strand deformation and long-time or high tension plastic strain based on
laboratory conductor test results and an assumed line design and load sequence.
Plastic conductor elongation increases with initial installed tension and decreases
the ratio of steel to aluminum crossectional area.
All three elongation models assume linear elastic elongation under tensile load and linear
thermal elongation due to changes in conductor temperature. They differ in the manner
in which plastic elongation is calculated.
In North America, EPE models are used almost exclusively. The Varney Graphical
method, implemented in a computer program which utilizes experimental conductor test
data, is in wide use. Experimental stress-strain and creep data, represented by 4th order
polynomials, is widely available for all common conductor types and sizes [18].
33
Conductor test data for use in the SPE and possibly the EPE elongation models can be
found in IEC Technical Report 1597 [2]. This report also describes a method whereby
the linear modulus of stranded homogeneous and non-homogeneous conductors can be
estimated from the cross-sectional area(s), the stranding, and the wire material. The
typical plastic elongation of aluminium and A1/Syz (ACSR) conductors, which occurs
over extended periods of time, for use with the SPE model, is also to be found in this
publication.
5.2 Linear Thermal and Elastic Elongation
The original length of the conductor is assumed to be that produced by the manufacturer
(manufactured length) at the time that the conductor was stranded and wound on the
reel for delivery. On the reel as delivered, the conductor tension is nearly zero. If the
conductor has a steel core, then the length of steel core and the aluminium layers wound
around it are nearly equal. Rawlins [19] has suggested that there may be residual stresses
in the aluminium layers as a result of the stranding process but this is only important
when estimating high temperature sag.
In the LE and SPE conductor elongation models, the stranded aluminium conductor is
assumed to elongate linearly and reversibly in response to modest changes in tension
(Elastic Elongation) and to modest changes in conductor temperature (Linear Thermal
Elongation). The linear and reversible change in length (elongation) in response to
modest changes in tension and temperature is assumed to behave as was shown in
equations (8) and (9). The stranded conductor is represented as a linear spring which
changes length in response to changes in tension and temperature, returning to its original
length when the tension or temperature is returned to their original value.
With the EPE conductor elongation model, the stranded aluminum conductor is assumed
to elongate non-linearly with tension when first loaded due to strand deformation and
settlement. However, once loaded to a tension H1, the conductor behaves linearly at
tensions below H1. According to the EPE model, if the conductor tension subsequently
exceeds H1, the conductor again elongates non-linearly as a result of additional strand
settlement and deformation up to a new, higher tension H2, yet linearly afterward at
tensions below H2.
Thus, in all three elongation models, the conductor is assumed to behave linearly with
tension under all or most field conditions.
5.2.1 Linear Elastic Strain - All Aluminium Conductors

As described in IEC technical brochure 1597, the elastic elongation of a stranded
conductor can be represented by the equation:
H H REF
LH = LREF 1 + (13a)
EA
34
L H
= = (13b)
L EA
Where:
LH = Length of conductor under horizontal tension H
LREF = Reference length of conductor under horizontal tension for no ice or wind load at
everyday temperature H REF
E = Modulus of elasticity of the conductor
A = Conductor cross-sectional area
= Strain or relative elongation expressed in s or 110-6
H/A = Stress (tension divided by area)
According to IEC 1597, reasonable values for the modulus of all aluminium stranded
conductors, regardless of alloy are shown in Table 7. These values are in rough
agreement with other recommendations from the literature.
Table 7 - Typical Linear Elastic Modulus for All Aluminium Conductors

Number of Strands Elastic Modulus - GPa
7 63.3
19 61.2
37 58.9
61 58.3
According to equation (13), for a 403-A1-37 strand conductor, the elastic strain
corresponding to the application of a 12kN (20% of its RTS) tension is 506 s (0.000506
or 0.0506%). For a 300 m length of conductor, the change in length corresponding to
application of a tension of 12 kN is only 152 mm.
Notice that the conductor strain unit micro-strain is abbreviated s. As may be

seen in equations (13), the use of GPa for modulus, E, and mm2 for the area, A, yields
conductor strain in s.
35
Elongation (microstrain) vs tension for linear stress-strain assumption for Arbutus A1

conductor installed to 12365 N in 180 m span.
1600.0
1400.0
1200.0
1000.0
Elongation relative to unstressed

Elongation [Microstrain]
800.0 length with plastic elongation of

150 microstrain Elongation relative to unstressed
length (0 N)
600.0
400.0
Elongation relative to initial
200.0 stressed length at 12365 N.
0.0
0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000
-200.0
-400.0
-600.0
Tension - N
Figure 17 - Assumed linear stress-strain behavior of a 402-A1-37 Arbutus

conductor with and without plastic elongation.
The preceding equations (13), the calculation example, and Figure 17 all show how
stranded A1 conductors, assumed to have a linear stress-strain characteristic, elongate
under load. Notice that the assumption of linear stress-strain behavior does not preclude
consideration of unstressed length changes due to reversible changes in temperature or
to irreversible length changes due to plastic elongation. The top curve in Figure 17
illustrates the linear stress-strain behavior of the all aluminium conductor after it has
experienced a permanent plastic length increase of 150 s due to either a temperature
change or due to plastic elongation.
5.2.2 Linear Thermal Strain All Aluminium Conductor

For all aluminium (alloy) conductors, the equation for linear thermal elongation is:
L
= A TC (14)
L
Where:
A = Aluminium coefficient of linear thermal elongation (2310-6 oC-1)
TC = change in conductor temperature in oC
Notice that equation (14) can be used to convert a change in strain into an equivalent
change in conductor temperature. 115 s is equivalent to a temperature change of 5oC
(11510-6/2310-6) for an all aluminum conductor.
36
5.2.3 Linear Elastic Strain - Non-Homogeneous ACSR (A1/Syz) Conductors
Approximately 80% of bare overhead stranded conductors used in power lines are ACSR
(A1/Syz). With a non-homogeneous stranded conductor such as ACSR, the equation for
elastic behavior is more complex than with all aluminum conductors. The composite
stiffness (elastic modulus) depends not only on the modulus of each component but also
on their relative cross-sectional areas. This section discusses how the composite
conductor modulus can be calculated if the component modulus and area is known. Even
though the equations in the following refer to A1/S1A conductor, the concept applies
equally well to non-homogeneous conductors constructed from other materials.
The total tension, HAS, in the non-homogeneous conductor is the sum of the tensions in
the outer layers, HA, and the core, HS:
H AS = H A + H S (15)
The strains of the aluminium and steel components must be equal since the two
components are bound together at the ends of the conductor:
AS = A = S (16)
Given the link between stress and strain in each component as shown in equations (13),
the composite elastic modulus, EAS of the non-homogeneous conductor can be derived by
combining the preceding equations:
H AS HA HS
` AS = = (17)
AAS E AS AA E A AS E S
The component tensions are then found by rearranging equations (17):
E A AA E S AS
H A = H AS (18a) and H S = H AS (18b)
E AS AAS E AS AAS
Finally, in terms of the modulus of the components, the composite linear modulus is:
AA A
E AS = E A + ES S (19)
AAS AAS
The two terms on the right hand side of this equation are sometimes referred to as the
virtual modulus of the outer layers and the core, respectively. Note that a stress-strain
plot for ACSR showing the component modulus multiplied by the area fraction can be
simply added to find the total modulus.
As noted in Table 8, typical values of ES = 190 GPa and EA = 55 GPa are suggested in
[2] for stranded steel and aluminium components, respectively.
Table 8 - List of Conductor Final Modulus Values

Typical Steel Core
Published Value Area Calculated Elastic
A1/Syz of Final Fraction of Final Modulus* -
Stranding Modulus - GPa Total GPa
6/1 79.0 14% 74.3
18/1 68.0 6% 62.5
22/7 71.0 9% 67.2
26/7 74.2 14% 73.9
45/7 64.5 6% 63.7
54/7 67.1 11% 70.5
54/19 69.7 11% 70.5
72/7 61.1 4% 60.6
72/19 61.0 4% 60.6
84/7 66.6 8% 65.4
84/19 66.5 8% 65.4
* - Calculated based on EA = 55GPa and ES = 190GPa.
According to equation (19) and Table 8, even modest steel areas (e.g. 11% of total area)
greatly stiffen aluminium conductors, increasing the composite modulus from 55 to 68-
70 GPa (approximately 25%). Such stiffening reduces the sag increase under heavy ice
and wind loads and yields higher maximum tension loads on angle and dead-end
structures.
The presence of a steel core also reduces thermal elongation and increases the rated
tensile strength of the conductor (e.g. the RTS of 26/7 ACSR is 225% that of an all
aluminum conductor with the same electrical resistance).
5.2.4 Linear Thermal Strain - Non-Homogeneous A1/S1x Conductor

For non-homogeneous stranded conductors such as ACSR (A1/Syz), the composite
conductors rate of linear thermal expansion is less than that of all aluminium conductors
because the steel core wires elongate at half the rate of the aluminium layers. The
composite coefficient of linear thermal expansion of a non-homogenous conductor such
as A1/Syz may be calculated from the following equations:
EA AA E AS
AS = A + S S (20)
E AS AAS E AS AAS
The linear thermal elongation coefficient of aluminium is twice that of steel. Therefore,
as the temperature of an A1/Syz conductor increases, while the entire conductor
elongates according to the composite coefficient of linear thermal expansion shown
above, there is also a transfer of tension from the aluminium strands into the steel strands.
38
For example, with 403mm2, 26/7 ACSR (403-A1/S1A-26/7) Drake conductor, the
composite modulus and thermal elongation coefficient, according to (19) and (20) are:
402.8 65.8
E AS =55 + 190 = 74 MPa
468.6 468.6
55 402.8 6 190 65.8

AS = 23e 6 + 11.5 10 = 18.84 10
6
74 468.6 74 468.6
5.3 Simplified Plastic Elongation (SPE) Model

The preceding equations apply to the elastic elongation of aluminium and steel wires in
A1/Syz stranded conductor where both components are under load. But the aluminium
wires also elongate plastically under tension. This plastic elongation of aluminium can
be divided into three categories (refer to Figure 16):
1. Strand settlement & deformation (Initial Plastic Elongation) When first loaded to
a tension of 15% to 25% of RTS, during the process of stringing and sagging, the
aluminium layers of the conductor elongate plastically by an amount which
increases with tension.
2. Short-time high-tension plastic elongation (Design Loading Plastic Elongation)
After the conductor has been sagged and clipped, ice and/or wind may raise the
tension to much higher levels (e.g. 30% to 80% of RTS) for relatively short times
(1 hour to 24 hours). This causes additional plastic elongation of the aluminium
layers and lesser plastic elongation of any steel core.
3. Long time metallurgical creep elongation (Creep Plastic Elongation) After the
conductor has been sagged and clipped, the aluminium layers will continue to
elongate plastically even for moderate everyday tensions of 15% to 25% of
RTS. Over 10 years or more, the plastic elongation of aluminium layers due to
such long-time creep elongation may exceed that associated with high short-time
loads. This is especially true in geographical areas not subject to ice or hurricane
force winds.
With reference to the Linear Elongation (LE) model defined previously in section 5.2,
plastic elongation is completely ignored. In the Simplified Plastic Elongation (SPE)
model, plastic elongation of the conductor is represented by a typical value based on
experience and engineering judgment. Only in the Experimental Plastic Elongation
(EPE) model (section 5.4) are the three types of plastic elongation considered separately
and the combined resultant plastic elongation calculated as a function of tension,
temperature, and time.
39
In the SPE model, a typical value of plastic elongation is specified to represent the
combined effect of strand settlement and deformation, high tension load events, and
sustained everyday tension of the life of the line. For a homogeneous conductor (e.g. all
aluminum) the initial unstressed length of the conductor is simply increased by the
amount of plastic elongation and the final greater sag and decreased tension are
calculated by one of the methods described in section 6. For a non-homogeneous
conductor (e.g. ACSR), however, the calculation is more complex because the creep
elongation of the steel core wires is normally negligible. As the aluminum wires elongate
plastically in ACSR, three things occur: the fraction of composite tension in the
aluminum layers decreases; the fraction of composite tension in the steel core increases;
and the composite tension decreases while the composite strain (i.e. sag) increases.
For ACSR conductor, neglecting any steel core plastic elongation, the final tensions in
the steel core, HS, and in the aluminum layers, HA, is a function of the plastic aluminium
strand elongation, CA, as shown in equations (21).
H' H 'A H 'S

= = + CA = (21a)
AAS E AS AA E A AS E S
Rearranging the preceding equations, the fractions of the final component tension in
the aluminium and steel core can be found as a function of the component areas, the
component elastic modulus of aluminium and steel, and the aluminium plastic strain:
H ' A E A AA EA
= (1 CA , ) (21b)
H ,
EA H
H , S E S AS EA
= (1 + CA , ) (21c)
H ,
EA H
As noted in IEC 1597, one can conclude from these equations that:
1. Plastic elongation in the aluminium strands (CA) reduces the fraction of the total
conductor tension (see equation 21b) which is carried in the aluminium strands
and increases the fraction carried in the steel core strands (equation 21c).
2. The increase in composite conductor length is a result of the increased elastic
elongation of the steel core.
3. If the plastic elongation of the aluminum layers is sufficiently large, the tension in
the aluminium strands can reach zero and then be negative (i.e. in compression).
Finally, note that the tension shifts described in these equations also occur at increased
conductor temperatures because of the higher thermal elongation rate of aluminium as
compared to steel. Plastic elongation in the aluminium layers reduces the conductor
temperature at which the aluminium tension reaches zero (the knee-point temperature)
with A1/S1x conductor.
40
Assuming that a Drake ACSR conductor is recently installed at 28 kN and 15oC, and that
the aluminium strand layer plastic elongation due to settling and initial loading is CA =
300 s, then according to equations (21b) and (21c), the initial tensions in the
aluminium layers and steel core are:
28 55 402.8 300 10 6 74 468.6

HA = (1 ) = 11.2kN
74 468.8 28
H S = 28 11.2 = 16.8kN
If the conductor temperature then increases to 45oC, the aluminium strands elongate at
twice the rate of the steel core which causes an additional strain shift from the aluminium
to the steel as follows:
= ( A S ) TC = 11.5E 6 (45 15) = 345s
Ignoring any reduction in composite tension due to the increased length of the conductor,
the tension distribution at 45oC is:
HA =
28 55 402.8
(1
(300 + 345) 10 6 74 468.6 ) = 3.6kN
74 468.6 28
H S = 28 3.6 = 24.4kN
According to equation (21a), this tension shift at constant composite conductor tension
can only occur with a composite strain of:
24.4
= = 1952 s
65.8 190
At somewhat higher temperatures, the aluminium tension goes to zero and all the tension
is carried by the steel core. Beyond this temperature, the A1/S1x conductor elongates
with temperature at the rate of steel. This temperature is commonly referred to as the
knee-point temperature because it corresponds to the point at which the rate of increase
of sag with temperature changes, showing as a knee on a plot of sag versus
temperature. When the temperature of the conductor decreases, the aluminium strands
once again come under tension and the conductor behaves according to the composite
modulus and thermal elongation equations above.
For example, Figure 18 depicts 10 years of creep elongation of the aluminium strands
which causes the knee-point to occur at a lower temperature because the plastic creep
elongation has resulted in stretched aluminium strands requiring a lower temperature
increase to fully unload to the steel core.
41
Sag Kneepoint of 26/7 A1/S1 Drake installed to 20% RBS at 15C in 300 m span
10
Kneepoint after
aluminum creep
9 Kneepoint before
aluminum creep
Sag - meters
6
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Conductor Temperature - deg C
Figure 18 Knee-point temperature as affected by creep elongation of

aluminium strands.
Note how the knee-point temperature of the example (Drake A1/Syz in a 300 m span)
moves from 135oC when the conductor is first installed to 60oC after aluminium creep for
10 years has occurred.
Tests of multi-layer A1/Syz, however, indicate that the full hard H19 aluminium layers
support a modest level of compression beyond the knee-point temperature. Several
theories have been proposed to model the composite conductor thermal elongation in this
transition region beyond the knee-point temperature.
Rawlins [19] found that the increased sag at temperatures above the kneepoint are due to a
combination of residual stress in the aluminium layers (a result of two-pass manufacturing
stranding process) and interference between the helical layers trying to expand radially
(lending the aluminium component layers a small compression modulus). Barrett [20]
suggested that the aluminium layers can support up to 10 MPa (1500 psi.) of compression
which can be increased by the relatively high radial temperature gradients that can occur at
high current densities. Barrett notes a high level of random variation in the observed levels
of thermal elongation beyond knee-point. Rawlins study found that the compressive
aluminum stresses beyond the knee-point temperature to be insignificant. In Barretts
studies of compression levels in A1/Syz, he found that the aluminium layers supported
between 7 and 21 MPa (1000 and 3000 psi.).
Given the variability of sag calculation at high temperatures, and the uncertainty of the
details, it seems prudent to take a conservative approach in accounting for aluminium
42
compression. Recommendations for additional sag due to aluminium compression are
summarized in the following table:
Table 1 Maximum excess sag (m) due to the built-in aluminium stress posited by Rawlins,
at temperatures above the kneepoint, as estimated with the Alcoa SAG10 computer program.
Span Length - m
A1/Syz Type 200 400 600
Tern 45/7 0.3 0.3 -
Drake 26/7 0.5 0.7 1.0
Mallard 30/19 0.4 0.5 0.7
Of course, direct measurement of sag-tension variation with high temperature could supersede
these values.
5.4 Experimentally Measured Plastic Elongation of Stranded
Conductors
As discussed previously (and illustrated in Erreur ! Source du renvoi introuvable.),
concentric stranded aluminium conductors are subject to the following elastic and inelastic
strains:
1. Thermal Elongation - reversible linear elongation due to temperature change
2. Elastic Elongation - reversible linear elongation due to tension change
3. Strand Settlement & Deformation (Initial Plastic Elongation) rapid irreversible
plastic elongation under initial loading due to a combination of strand settlement,
deformation, and rapid (<1 hour) metallurgical creep of aluminium wires.
4. Short-time, High-Tension Plastic Elongation (Design Loading Plastic Elongation)
rapid irreversible plastic elongation which occurs as the result of high conductor
tensions due to wind and ice loads.
5. Long-time metallurgical creep elongation (Creep Plastic Elongation) relatively
slow, irreversible plastic elongation which occurs due to persistent moderate tension
over the life of a transmission line.
Reversible linear thermal elongation and linear elastic elongation of stranded conductors were
described in Section 5.2. This section of the brochure discusses the plastic elongation
components.
5.4.1 Stress-strain testing of stranded conductors
Plastic elongation is readily evident in any laboratory testing of concentric stranded
aluminium conductor. The Aluminium Association provides a standard method of stress-
strain (and creep) testing of Aluminium and ACSR Conductors. After properly terminating a
test length of approximately 13 meters, the conductor is subjected to an initial load equal to
approximately 2% of its RTS in order to straighten it. Afterward, the sample is subjected to a
series of loads as follows:
1. 30% of RTS for 30 minutes and release to initial load.
43

4. Increasing load until strand breakage occurs.
Typical results of such a test are shown in Figure 19.
Stress-Strain Test
45,000
300
One Hour
40,000
Modulus
35,000
30,000
200 Initial 70% RBS
Modulus
25,000
Stress
50% RBS
[MPa]
20,000
15,000
100 30% RBS
10,000
Final
Modulus
5,000
0
0.000 0.050 0.100 0.150 0.200 0.250 0.300 0.350 0.400 0.450
% %Strain
Strain
Figure 19 Typical stress-strain test results with 1-hour initial curve drawn and
both initial and final modulus shown.
Note that:
1. The settlement and 1-hour creep plastic elongation increases with tension.
2. The curve drawn through the 1-hour hold points is designated as the initial
stress-strain curve.
3. The slope of the stress-strain curve during unloading and re-loading the
conductor after each hold period is the same. This slope is called the final
stress-strain modulus of the composite conductor.
4. The final modulus is greater than the initial modulus.
If the conductor consists entirely of aluminium wires, then only one stress-strain test is
required. As a result of numerous stress-strain tests, with conductors provided by a
number of different manufacturers, stress strain curves including both initial and final
curves have been made available by the Aluminium Association. Figure 20 shows stress-
strain curves for 37-strand, all-aluminium (A1) conductor.
44
Figure 20- Stress-strain curve for 37 strand A1 conductor.
If the conductor is A1/Syz or another non-homogeneous conductor having components

with different thermal elongation coefficients, then two stress-strain tests are required.
The first test is performed on the composite conductor as shown in Figure 21.
45
Initial Modulus = 60.7 MPa

Final Modulus = 73.8 MPa
Breaking Strength = 123.7 kN
Figure 21 - Raw data from a stress-strain test of A1/Syz conductor
A second test must be performed on the steel core alone. The result of a test on the S1A-
7 steel core alone is shown in Figure 22.
Initial Modulus = 158 MPa

Final Modulus = 168 MPa
Breaking Strength = 70.2 kN
Figure 22 - Raw data for a stress-strain test performed on the steel core alone for
the A1/Syz conductor whose composite test results are shown in Figure 21.
46
Notice that the permanent elongation of the steel core at each of the three hold points is
much less than the elongation of the composite conductor. Based on the test results
shown in Figure 21 and Figure 22, an initial stress-strain curve for the aluminium
layers alone can be derived. To do this, note that the total tension, HAS, in the conductor
is the sum of the tension in the aluminum layers, HA, and the tension in the steel core, HS,
and that the stress in the component parts is equal to the component tension divided by
the component area. The total stress in the conductor is therefore:
H AS A A
= AS = A A + S S (22)
AAS AAS AAS
Where AS is the ordinate of Figure 21 and S is the ordinate of Figure 22.
In Figure 21, the percent strain at which the final stress-strain curve of the composite
conductor intersects the horizontal axis, depends on the maximum tension to which the
stranded conductor has been exposed, however the slope of the curve (the conductor
modulus) does not. Therefore, the higher the stress experienced by the conductor, the
greater the plastic elongation the conductor experiences as a result of the maximum
loading event.
5.4.2 Plastic elongation under initial high loading
The experimental stress-strain curves can be used to calculate the initial conductor plastic
strain as a function of the maximum tension as shown in Figure 23. The plastic
elongation due to strand settlement and deformation during initial tension loading is equal
to the difference in strain between the linear behavior (indicated by the final curve drawn
through the origin) and the initial 1-hour hold curve. No attempt is made in this
document to draw a distinction between settlement strain and short time creep elongation
at high tension levels.
47
Stress-strain curve for 37 strand A1 conductor
180000
160000 Plastic Elong @70%
140000
Final Aluminum
120000
Initial Aluminum
Plastic Elong
Stress- kPa
100000
@50%
80000
60000 Plastic Elong

@30%
40000
20000
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
Percent Elongation
Figure 23 - Initial plastic strain as a function of tension.
Harvey and Larson [21, 22, 23] reviewed data from a large series of stress-strain tests to
determine the initial settling and strand deformation values of plastic elongation shown in
Figure 23 for various types of aluminum conductor. They noted that there was
considerable random variation between test samples but that the values shown in Table
10 were generally consistent with the tests they reviewed. They also noted that these
values were not dependent on the rod source (continuous-cast or rolled aluminum rod) or,
for A1/Syz, on the stranding.
Table 10 - Initial settling and one-hour creep strain as a function of conductor
type and stress from Harvey & Larson.
%Plastic Strain [s]
Conductor Type 30% RTS 50% RTS 70% RTS
A1 240 570 1180
A1/Syz 370 830 1760
A2 260 500 1120
A1/A2 200 580 1530
48
Similar data is presented in Table 3 of IEC 1597 [2] but the IEC data indicates a
discernable difference as a function of ACSR stranding. Table 11, below, summarizes
the IEC data.
The plastic elongation due to initial settlement and strand deformation as a function of
tension can be derived from the values given in Table 11.
Table 11 - Stress-strain data from IEC 1597 Table 3
Plastic Settlement & 1-hour creep as a
function of stress [s]
Type Stranding Efinal-GPa 25MPa 50MPa 75MPa 100MPa 125MPa
A1 or A2 7 strand 63.3 105 310 515 1020 1925
A1 or A2 19 strand 61.2 92 283 575 1066 2058
A1 or A2 37 strand 58.9 76 251 527 1002 1978
A1 or A2 61 strand 58.3 71 342 714 1285 2256
A1/S1 6/1 79.0 84 167 151 234 418
A1/S1 18/1 68.0 132 265 397 629 862
A1/S1 22/7 71.0 148 196 444 592 739
A1/S1 26/7 74.2 163 226 389 452 615
A1/S1 45/7 64.5 212 325 437 650 962
A1/S1 54/7 67.1 127 255 382 510 737
A1/S1 54/19 69.7 141 183 324 465 707
A1/S1 72/7 61.1 291 382 573 763 1054
A1/S1 72/19 61.0 290 380 570 761 1151
A1/S1 84/7 66.6 125 149 374 598 923
A1/S1 84/19 66.5 124 148 272 496 820
Plastic elongation due to settlement and strand deformation may be estimated by

interpolating linearly between the table values or by using the table values to derive a
polynomial equation such as the following for 37-strand A1:
Ci = 0.001333598* ^3 - 0.08566234* ^2 + 5.602464*
Where Ci is the conductor strain in s and is the conductor stress in MPa.
The final elongation curve for 37 strand A1 conductor is given by:
Cf = 0.01698
5.4.3 Long-time Metallurgical Creep - Plastic Elongation for Persistent

Moderate Loading
As can be seen from the test results in the previous section, the initial plastic elongation
at moderate tension loading is quite small (e.g. less than 200 s at 20% RTS). However,
49
as described in two excellent Electra articles [24, 25], aluminium strands also undergo
significant plastic elongation when even moderate tensions are applied for extended
periods of time.
This long-time plastic elongation of aluminium at moderate tension levels is commonly
referred to as metallurgical creep or simply creep plastic elongation. Since bare overhead
conductors are typically installed to tensions on the order of 20% RTS, and sag increases
with conductor length, the accurate calculation of conductor creep plastic elongation over
the life of the line is an important factor in maintaining electrical clearances.
As for stress-strain testing, there is a standard method for measuring the creep plastic
elongation of concentric stranded bare overhead conductors [26, 27]. The preferred test
length is the same as for stress-strain tests 12.5 m. When tested at room temperature,
the conductor specimen is allowed to stabilize to room temperature. After the test tension
is applied, the specimen length is measured at one hour and at subsequent time intervals
up to 1000 hours.
For a series of such creep elongation tests (each with a different new sample of
conductor) the data can be plotted on log-log giving a series of creep curves as
shown in Figure 24.
Creep Test
1.0 Extrapolate out

Test Runs for to 10 Years
1000 Hours
Start at One Hour

Because Modulus
Includes Creep
0.1
Creep in
% Strain
45% RBS
0.01 35% RBS
25% RBS Measure and Plot Creep

(Elongation) Over Time
at Constant Tension
15% RBS
0.001
0.1 1 10 100 1000 10,000 100,000
Time in Hours
Figure 24 - Creep elongation curves resulting from a series of tests at different

tension levels, all at room temperature.
50
These curves do not allow estimate of creep plastic elongation at times less than 1 hour.
For such short times, the plastic elongation is estimated from the stress-strain
measurements. Also, the straight lines on log-log paper indicate the decreasing rate of
creep elongation with time. In general, the increase in elongation between 10 and 100
hours is the same as the change between 100 and 1000 hours. The rate of creep
elongation decreases by a factor of 10 as the time increases by a factor of 10.
The data shown in Figure 24 can be represented algebraically. Harvey & Larson suggest
the following equations for plastic creep elongation of A1 stranded conductor at everyday
temperatures:
C = 1.23 [ ( MPa )]1.3 [t (hrs )]0.16 microstrain
The aluminium source is assumed to be rolled-rod aluminum, and t is the elapsed time in
hours. Thus the plastic creep elongation of our example Arbutus A1 conductor at 20% of
its RTS (RTS = 61 800 N), expressed as stress (H/A = 0.2*61 800/403.8 = 30.6 MPa)
applied for 10 years (87 600 h) is:
C = 1.23 (30.6)1.3 87600 0.16 = 649microstrain
These algebraic equations are one way of summarizing the test data for creep plastic
elongation in stranded conductors. An equally valid method, used in the load-strain sag-
tension method, is to summarize the data graphically as shown in Figure 25.
Stress-strain & creep elongation curves for 37 strand A1 conductor
140000
120000
Initial "1-hour"
Aluminum
70% RBS
100000
Linear Modulus
80000
Stress- kPa
50% RBS
12 mo Final Alum after

60000 creep load to 122 MPa
6 mo
creep
30% RBS
40000
10 yr
creep
20000
0
-0.05 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45
Percent Elongation
Figure 25 - Creep elongation curves for A3 stranded conductor.
51
For example, the creep elongation of this 37 strand all aluminium stranded conductor can
be calculated for an elapsed time of 10 years at a stress of 30.6 MPa. Re-plotting Figure
25 into Figure 26, we can see that the total conductor creep over 10 years, including
initial settling strain, is approximately 0.09% or 900 s.
Stress-strain & creep elongation curves for 37 strand A1 conductor
40000
Initial "1-
35000
hour"
30000
Linear Modulus 12 mo
creep
25000
6 mo
Stress- kPa
creep Final Alum after

20000 10 yrs creep
10 yr
creep
15000
10000
5000
0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18 0.2
Percent Elongation
Figure 26 - Graphical determination of creep elongation for a 37 strand all

aluminium stranded conductor at a constant tension equal to 20% of the RTS
over 10 years.
Permanent increase in conductor length due to heavy load occurrences cannot be

predicted at the time a line is built. The reason for this unpredictability is that the
occurrence of heavy ice and wind loads is random. A heavy ice storm may occur the day
after the line is built or may never occur over the life of the line. This uncertainty is
normally handled by assuming a conservative load sequence.
The plastic conductor elongation, caused by strand deformation and settling at high
tension due to heavy ice and wind loads, may not simply be added to the plastic
elongation due to metallurgical creep at everyday tensions. Instead, final sag-tensions
are calculated based on everyday conductor stress over an extended period of time (e.g.
10 years) and based on an assumed heavy ice and wind load. The final sag and tension
values for the two cases are compared and final sags and tensions are based on the case
which gives the largest permanent elongation (i.e. greatest change in sag).
52
5.4.4 Long-time Creep Plastic Elongation with non-homogeneous stranded

conductors
The creep test data for non-homogeneous conductors can be applied in much the same
manner as for homogeneous conductors. The permanent elongation due to creep at
moderate tension levels leads to an increase in sag and a corresponding decrease in
tension over the life of the line. For example, IEC 1597 suggests that the long term creep
plastic elongation of A1/S1A and A1 can be represented by an equivalent temperature
increase of 30oC and 35oC, respectively. This simple approach to accounting for creep
elongation in A1/Sxy ignores the fact that only the aluminium layers are permanently
elongating while the steel core is elongating due to increased tension.
For A1/S1A conductors, plastic elongation of the composite conductor amounts to a

permanent elongation of the unstressed length of the aluminium layers and an increase in
the tension applied to the steel core. Thus given creep test data such as that shown in
Figure 24, one must separate the permanent elongation of the aluminium layers from the
composite length change.
In brief, the increase in stress of the steel core is determined by multiplying the long-time
creep elongation found under test by the steel core final modulus. The increase in length
of the aluminium layers is then found by subtracting the reduced elastic elongation from
the creep elongation.
The method of dealing with non-homogeneous conductors is described in more detail in

section 6 of this brochure.
5.4.5 Summing Plastic Elongation

In the preceding sections of this brochure, two distinct types of plastic elongation have
been considered. One occurs due to high tension loads which persist for short times,
typical of ice storms or periods of extremely high wind. The second occurs at moderate
tension levels sustained for long periods of time. The two types of plastic elongation may
not be added to find the total elongation. That is, the total plastic strain experienced by
the conductors in an overhead line is not the sum of the strains due to high load events
and sustained everyday tension.
In fact, a well-known method of preventing moderate tension long-time creep from

occurring during the stringing and sagging process is to pre-stress the conductor. In
pre-stressing, the conductor is tensioned to a relatively high tension for a short period of
time (e.g. 30% to 50% of RTS for 4 to 24 hours) after which the conductor does not
plastically elongate until well after installation is completed.
53
6.0 SAG-TENSION CALCULATION METHODS

There are many sag-tension calculation methods in use around the world. Each is
somewhat unique and presumably gives acceptable results based on the experience of the
transmission line designer. In almost every case, such calculations are done numerically
but differ in how conductor elongation in response to changes in tension, temperature and
time. As shown in Section 5, the various methods of calculation largely differ in how the
conductor elongation is represented. It is suggested that the various approaches can be
grouped into one of three conductor elongation models: (1) Linear Elongation (LE); (2)
Simplified Plastic Elongation (SPE); or (3) Experimental Plastic Elongation (EPE)
models.
Whatever the elongation model used, sag-tension calculations normally produce

calculated sags and corresponding tensions for a series of loading cases (ice and wind
load plus conductor temperature) under one or more constraints on tension or sag at
particular loading conditions. In most calculation methods, where plastic conductor
elongation is considered, sag-tension calculations are performed for a set of loading cases
corresponding to the initial conductor state at the time of construction and one or more
final states corresponding to a time-line of 10 years or more.
As an example, using the EPE elongation model, sag-tension calculations are shown in
Table 12 as generated by the SAG10 program, which is widely used in North America.
The difference in sag and tension between the loading cases is due to differences in
conductor temperature and weight per unit length. The difference in initial and final sag-
tensions is the result of plastic conductor elongation that results from design tension
loading events and metallurgical creep over time. Notice that the initial and final sag-
tension is equal in the first row. This occurs because the maximum plastic elongation of
the conductor occurs as a result of this loading condition, rather than being the result of
metallurgical creep at everyday conditions.
Table 12 - Typical Sag-tension Calculation Results where the permanent

elongation of the aluminum strands is determined by the maximum wind and ice
load rather than by metallurgical creep at everyday temperature.
Conductor DRAKE 26/7 ACSR
Area = 468.6 sq. mm. OD = 28.14 mm Bare Wt = 15.96 N/m
Span = 300 m RTS = 140119 N
Loading Case Final Initial
Temp Ice Wind Weight Sag Tension RTS Sag Tension RTS
C mm N/m2 N/m m N % m N %
-20 12.5 380 36.377 9.26 44386 31.7 9.26 44386 31.7
-40 0 0 15.966 7.25 24818 17.7 6.92 25996 18.6
0 0 0 15.966 8.61 20938 14.9 8.13 22146 15.8
15 0 0 15.966 9.08 19847 14.2 8.57 21018 15.0*
25 0 0 15.966 9.39 19200 13.7 8.86 20340 14.5
50 0 0 15.966 10.13 17805 12.7 9.56 18864 13.5
75 0 0 15.966 10.62 17001 12.1 10.23 17636 12.6
100 0 0 15.966 10.99 16425 11.7 10.88 16601 11.8
54
Even though the sag-tension calculations in Table 12 were generated by a specific

calculation method, the tabular result showing both initial and final sag-tension values is
typical of any sag-tension calculation method except one in which plastic elongation of
the conductor is ignored. If the LE elongation model is used in sag-tension calculations,
the initial and final values would be the same (no plastic elongation).
Not only are the results of calculation similar for the various sag-tension calculation
programs, but the numerical methods used to find the solutions for each loading case are
usually similar. The numerical method follows a process similar to the following:
1. For the span, S, and bare installed conductor weight, w0, the conductor sag, D0,
and conductor length, L0, are determined for the initial installed loading condition
tension, H0, and temperature, T0 (e.g. 15% RTS at 15oC in a 300 m span). This
condition is indicated by the asterisk in Table 12.
2. For Loading Condition #1, the conductor weight, w1, per unit length is determined
from the conductor bare weight and any ice and wind loads specified in loading
condition #1.
3. For the Loading Condition #1, the conductor length is adjusted to L1, based on the
difference in conductor temperature using equation (14).
4. Given the weight, w1, and the conductor length, L1, the conductor tension, H11, is
calculated according to equation (8).
5. Based on the initial estimate of conductor tension, H11, the conductor length for
loading condition #1 can be estimated by adjusting for the change in tension (H0
H11) using equation 13 (or a non-linear experimental curve).
6. A new estimate of conductor length for loading case #1 is then L12.
7. Using L12, the conductor tension is recalculated using equation (14), etc., until the
conductor lengths and the conductor tensions are equal.
From the preceding discussion, it is clear that the difference in the calculation methods
centers on modeling and manipulating conductor elongation data, rather than how the
sag-tension values are calculated in determining the simultaneous solution of catenary
and conductor elongation equations.
None of the contributors to this brochure could identify a power transmission company
that used the simplest linear model for sag-tension behavior, where plastic elongation is
ignored. However, the simplicity of this elongation model allows certain physical
insights that the more complex elongation models do not.
The basic intention of any sag-tension calculation method is to determine the variation in
sag and tension with (1) changes in conductor weight due to ice and wind, (2) changes in
conductor length due to temperature variation, and (3) the effects of plastic elongation (if
any) as a function of time and high mechanical loads.
Sag-tension calculations utilizing the three elongation models will be demonstrated with
two typical transmission conductors:
55
37 strand, 403 mm2, 26.1 mm diameter Arbutus A1 conductor installed in a 300

meter span.
26/7, 468 mm2, 28.1 mm diameter Drake A1/S1A installed in a 300 and a 180 m
span.
The initial catenary conditions can be calculated based on the exact catenary equations
described in Section 2 of this brochure:
Table 13 - Characteristics of 37-strand A1 and 26/7 strand A1/Sxy

Sag-tension Case Example #1 Example #2
Conductor Name (IEC) 403-A1-37 403-A1/S1A-26/7
Conductor Common Name 403 mm2 37 AAC 403 mm2 26/7
ACSR
Span Length [m] 300 180 or 300
Outside Diameter [mm] 26.1 28.1
Bare Wt. per unit length [N/m] 10.89 15.97
Rated Tensile Strength [kN] 61.8 140.1
Final Elastic Modulus [MPa] 58.9 73.9
Total Area [mm2] 402.9 468.6
Steel Area [mm2] - 65.8
Sag-tension calculations are necessary in order to determine:

Installation (stringing) sags for other span lengths and conductor temperatures.
Sags at the lines maximum allowable (design) conductor temperature to assure
adequate electrical clearance.
Sag and tension under maximum ice and wind load to define maximum structure
conductor tension loads and to ensure that minimum electrical clearances are met.
Predict uplift problems and allow clipping offsets to be determined in
mountainous regions.
6.1 Sag-tension for A1 Conductor with LE (Linear Elongation)

Model
As the conductor weight per unit length, w, increases with the addition of ice or wind
pressure, the conductor tension increases. If the conductor is inextensible, then the
increase in tension is simply proportional to the increase in weight per unit length. Any
elongation of the conductor reduces the increase in tension but increases both the
catenary length and sag.
The linear elongation model has the advantage of simplicity, allowing a rather simple yet
exact sag-tension calculation process. If the conductor elongates linearly as a result of
the increase in tension, the change in conductor length is given by the following simple
equation (13a) presented previously in section 5.2.1:
LH LREF H H REF
=
LREF EA
56
With the bare A1 conductor installed at 15.33 kN (25% RTS) in a 300 m span, the initial
sag at 15oC is 8.0 m according to equation (2). If, after being installed, the conductor is
subjected to a wind pressure of 430 MPa at 15C, the conductor weight per unit length
increases from 10.89 N/m (bare) to the vector sum of the bare conductor weight (10.89
N/m) and the horizontal wind force (430*0.0261 = 11.2 N/m) or 15.6 N/m.
If the conductor were completely inelastic, then the sag of the bare conductor (8.0 m)
would be unchanged, and the new conductor weight per unit length of 15.6 N/m would
yield a conductor tension of 22 kN (15.33*(15.6/10.89)=22.0).
But the conductor is assumed to elongate linearly (LE model) with tension so the
conductor length and sag will increase and the conductor tension will be somewhat less
than if it were inelastic. To determine the new sag-tension value under this high wind
loading, the catenary equations and the elastic elongation equation can be solved
iteratively. This is conveniently done by searching for a tension value at which the
increase in conductor strain due to the increased conductor tension is equal to the increase
in catenary strain ([L-S]/S) due to the increased weight per unit length and tension.
The increase in conductor strain under tension is given by a form of equation (8) with the
final or elastic modulus of the Arbutus A1 conductor as 58.9 GPa:
L 300.5682 H ( N ) 15.33 10 3
H = = 6
58.9 10 403 10
9
300.5682
The increase in catenary strain under increased conductor weight and the corresponding
increase in tension are given by a rearrangement of equation (4):
L 300.5682 2 H [N ] 300 15.6
LCAT = = sinh 1
300.5682 300.5682 * 15.6 2 H [N ]
Setting the increases in conductor strain equal, we have the following equation which can
be solved for the new tension, H:
H 15330 2H 300 15.6

58.9 109 402.9 10 6 = 300.5682 * 15.6 sinh 2 H 1
The horizontal component of tension which satisfies the equation is:
H=20745 N
From equation (2), the corresponding sag is:
H w S 20745 15.6 300

D= cosh 1 = cosh 1 = 8.5m
w 2 H 15.6 2 20745
57
The resulting conductor tension under this wind load (i.e. 20.75 kN) is higher than when
initially installed (i.e. 15.33 kN) but less than if the conductor did not elongate (i.e. 21.94
kN). At the equilibrium tension, the tension has increased by 5415 N, the sag has
increased by 0.5 m, and the conductor strain has increased by 228 s.
The preceding calculation can be illustrated graphically as shown in Figure 27. The slope
of the linear stress-strain curve is equal to the conductor elastic modulus. The
intersection of the stress-strain curve (at A) with the bare conductor catenary curve
occurs at a conductor stress of 38 MPa (15.33 kN divided by 402.9 mm2).
60
B
50
High Wind
Catenary
13.4 MPa
Conductor Stress - MPa
40 A
30
Bare Conductor
Catenary
20
10
0.021%
0
0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4
% Elongation
Figure 27 - Sag-tension calculation for A1 conductor with High wind loading.
The solution for sag-tension at the high wind load condition is shown in Figure 27 at B,
the intersection of the linear stress-strain curve and the high wind catenary curve. It can
be seen that the stress has increased to about 51 MPa and the elongation increased by
about 0.021% (210 micro-strain) which compares favorably with the exact value of 228
s.
6.2 Sag-tension for A1/S1A Conductor at high temperature

with Simplified Plastic Elongation (SPE) Model
Using the Simplified Plastic Elongation (SPE) model, the sag-tension of A1/S1A Drake
conductor at high temperature can be solved using the algebraic plastic elongation
methods explained in Section 5 and illustrated with use of a stress-%elongation diagram.
58
In the SPE conductor model, plastic elongation is assumed equal to a typical value based
on historical experience and the tension induced elongation is assumed elastic.
With a steel-cored aluminum conductor, plastic elongation occurs primarily in the outer
layers of aluminum strands. Unlike all-aluminum conductors, since there is little or no
permanent elongation in the steel core, any plastic elongation of the composite ACSR is
limited by the core.
For example, with 795kcmil-26/7 Drake ACSR conductor, the composite modulus and
thermal elongation coefficient, according to (19) and (21) are:
0.6247 0.1017
E AS =8.6 + 27.0 = 11.2 Mpsi
0.7264 0.7264
This equation applies to the ACSR conductor as long as both the steel core and the
aluminum layers are in tension.
Since we are only interested in calculating the high temperature sag of this conductor, for
which the conductor weight per unit length remains the same, only the bare conductor
catenary curve is shown in Figure 28. Since we are using the SPE conductor model, the
stress-strain behavior of the conductor is assumed to be simply linear and the plastic
elongation is equal to a fixed, typical value, based on experience and engineering
judgment.
The calculation begins with the bare conductor installed initially to a stress of 48 MPa at
15C as shown at point A in Figure 28. The unstressed initial elongation of the
conductor is found from the intersection of the elastic modulus (starting at A) with the
zero stress abscissa.
To calculate the final unloaded tension at 100oC, one must account for plastic
elongation over the life of the line and for thermal elongation in going from the conductor
temperature when installed (i.e. 15oC) to the higher value (100oC) .Since we are using the
SPE elongation model, it can be assumed that a typical plastic elongation of the
conductor has been established based on field investigations or a conservative
engineering estimate. We will assume that this typical plastic elongation is 600 micro-
strain (or 0.06%).
With reference to Figure 28, the initial unstressed conductor elongation at 15oC is
found by moving from point A to point B (Notice that the elongation is reduced by
approximately 0.065%). The typical plastic elongation of 0.060% is represented in this
diagram by moving from point B to point C. The increased conductor sag at 15oC
due to this plastic elongation is found by following the linear modulus from point C to
point D where the elastic modulus intersects the bare catenary curve. At point D, the
stress is 43 MPa and the elongation is 0.0245%.
59
60
Bare
Catenary
50 A
Conductor Stress - MPa
D
40
F
30
20
10 Plastic Thermal Elongation

Elongation 15C to 100C
0 B C E
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
% Elongation
Figure 28 - Sag-tension at High Temperature with SPE model for Drake ACSR in
300 m span.
Converting this stress and elongation to final tension and sag at 15oC, we get:
H = 43MPa 468.6 = 20.1kN
20,100 15.97 300

D= cosh 1 = 8.95m
15.97 2 20100
Under final conditions, the initial installed tension has decreased from 28.0 kN to 20.1
kN and the initial installed sag of 8.0 m has increased to 8.95 m.
The final sag-tension condition at 100oC is found by shifting the intersection of the
elastic modulus curve and the zero stress axis to the right (C to E) by the change in
%elongation corresponding to the conductor temperature change from 15 to 100oC (i.e.
0.160% or 1600 micro-strain).
The final sag-tension condition at 100oC is then found by moving up the elastic modulus
curve from E to F where the elastic modulus intersects the bare catenary curve. The
final sag and tension values at 100oC are found to be 15.9 kN (34 MPa) and 11.3 m
(0.39%).
60
6.3 Sag-tension Calculation with Experimental Plastic Elongation

(EPE) Model
In doing sag-tension calculations using non-linear, experimental conductor elongation
data, the curves are typically represented by 4th order polynomials. Normally, such
calculations are done by computer but the explanation of calculations is clearer when
described graphically. In this section, we will illustrate sag-tension calculation methods
which utilize the Experimental Plastic Elongation (EPE) model by using graphs of
catenary and conductor elongation data. While such graphical solutions are reminiscent
of the Varney graphical method, the calculation methods actually illustrate the main
points of any sag-tension method that utilizes an EPE model for conductor.
The graphical sag-tension calculation utilizing EPE conductor data will be limited to a
180 m ruling span with 403 mm2 26/7 Drake ACSR, installed to an initial tension of 28
kN (20% of its RTS) at 15oC. The ruling span is assumed to be subject to occasional ice
and wind loadings of 12.5 mm radial glaze ice combined with a wind pressure of 383
Pascals.
While a normal sag-tension calculation considers a series of loading and conductor

temperature conditions, for the sake of clarity, well confine ourselves to one loading
condition at a time in this section.
6.3.1 Maximum conductor tension with the EPE model

Strain structures are designed to withstand the calculated maximum conductor tension
loads under high wind and ice conditions. Accounting for the plastic elongation of 1350-
H19 aluminum strands, due to settling and strand deformation during initial high tension
loading, yields a reduced estimate of maximum conductor tension.
Figure 29 illustrates how the use of an experimental plastic elongation (EPE) model
results in a lower estimate of maximum conductor tension than either the Linear
Elongation (LE) or Simplified Plastic Elongation (SPE) models, both of which assume
that the conductor elongates linearly with tension. Notice that the vertical axis is the
composite stress of the conductor and has the units of MPa.
In Figure 29, letter A indicates the starting point for this description. At A, the bare
Drake conductor is initially installed in a 180 m span with the bare conductor at a tension
of 28kN and a conductor temperature of 15oC. Given the total composite conductor
crossectional area of 468.6 mm2, 28 KN corresponds to a composite stress of 59.8 MPa,
which we will round off to 60 MPa on the graph.
The letters E and F indicate solution points on the loaded catenary curve (the catenary
curve which corresponds to a conductor temperature of -18oC and a conductor weight of
32.2 N/m due to the ice and wind loading) for the LE/SPE methods and for the EPE
elongation model, respectively. The difference (about 9%) in conductor stress between
these two points indicates the difference in maximum structure tension load obtained by
the linear and experimental conductor elongation models.
61
468 mm2, 26/7 Drake ACSR (with EPE model) in 180 m span
with 12.5 mm glaze ice and 383 Pa wind loading.
120.0
E Difference in maximum
100.0 tension of 4200 (9MPa)
F
Catenary Curve for
STRESS - MPa
80.0
conductor w. ice & wind
60.0 A
40.0
Catenary Curve for
20.0 bare conductor
D C B
0.0
-0.15 -0.1 -0.05 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25
% ELONGATION
Figure 29 - Sag-tension calculations of maximum, loaded conductor tension

illustrating the effect of plastic elongation
Though not shown in Figure 29, the sag of the conductor can be found for any
%elongation by application of equation (8) or from the stress (tension) and conductor
weight according to equation (2). For example, at point A, where the bare conductor is
initially installed, the sag is:
H w S 60 468.6 15.97 180

D= cosh 1 = cosh 1 = 2.3m
w 2H 15.97 2 60 468.6
Since the ice and wind loading occurs at -18oC, the unstressed lengths of the steel core
and the aluminum layers must be reduced, moving the unstressed %elongations to the
left, from C to D. Since the aluminum layers contract twice as much as the steel core, the
zero-tension lengths of the steel core and the aluminum layers for the EPE model are
nearly equal at the reduced temperature. Also, in this particular case, the %elongation
shift for the linear LE/SPE model at -18oC yields nearly the same zero tension length at
point D.
Starting at the % elongation which corresponds to the unstressed length of the conductor
at -18oC, both the linear LE/SPE and the non-linear EPE stress-strain curves are traced to
their intersection with the loaded catenary at points E and F. Above the initial installed
stress of 60 MPa, with the EPE model, further strand deformation and settling occurs.
62
Since the LE/SPE models are linear, this additional plastic elongation of the aluminum
layers is ignored. The additional plastic elongation predicted by the EPE model results in
a lower estimate of maximum conductor tension (point F) than that predicted by the LE
or SPE models (point E).
Notice that the more realistic EPE elongation model gives both a more realistic estimate
of maximum structure tension loading and that the difference between the linear estimate
and the non-linear estimate will be larger in severe ice and wind load areas.
The use of the EPE model makes it possible to calculate the plastic elongation of the
aluminum layers as a function of realistic high mechanical loading events rather than
ignoring it in the LE model or using a typical value in the SPE model. In addition, the
plastic elongation of the aluminum layers due to deformation and settling during high
tension load events can be compared to metallurgical creep plastic elongation to obtain a
more accurate estimate of actual plastic elongation. This, in turn, yields a better estimate
of final sags under high conductor temperatures as demonstrated in Section 6.3.3.
6.3.2 Final sag-tension accounting for aluminum creep with the EPE model
One of the very basic limitations of the linear elongation (LE) and Simplified Plastic
Elongation (SPE) conductor models is that, for non-homogeneous conductors, the
changes in component tensions which result from aluminum creep and the higher thermal
elongation rate of aluminum are usually ignored. Even with the SPE model, where a
typical plastic elongation of the aluminum layers could be selected, the selected plastic
elongation value would not be a function of loading events or time.
In contrast, Figure 30 shows how the EPE model allows one to keep track of the
component tension levels in aluminum layers and steel core for ACSR. In developing
Figure 30, the ACSR conductor is assumed to be installed (sagged and clipped) initially
to a total conductor tension of 60 MPa (28 kN) at 15oC. In applying this initial tension to
the previously unstressed, non-homogeneous conductor, the composite conductor is
elongated by about 0.105% as the conductor elongates along the AL-I + ST curve from A
to B.
The component stresses in the aluminum layers and the steel core can be plotted on the
same figure by noting equation (19) from section 5.2.3:
AA A
E AS = E A + ES S (19)
AAS AAS
The component stress-strain curves shown in Figure 30 are the actual stress-strain curves
multiplied by the ratio of the component area to the total area. The composite stress is
then simply the sum of the component stresses shown in the figure in accordance with
equation (19).
63
486 mm2 26/7 Drake ACSR in 180 m span showing initial

installed conditions prior to creep
70.0
B
60.0
Catenary Curve for

50.0 Bare Conductor
STRESS - MPa
AL-F+ST
40.0
C
30.0
AL-I D
AL-I+ST
20.0
AL-F
10.0
ST
0.0
A E
-0.1 -0.05 0 0.05 0.1 0.15
B
% ELONGATION
Figure 30 Application of Experimental Plastic Elongation method in calculating

aluminum and steel core component stresses for initial installation of Drake
ACSR at 20%RTS and 15oC.
From the component stress-strain curves shown in Figure 30, the initial component
tensions in the aluminum and steel core can be seen at the points marked C (31 MPa)
and D (29 MPa), respectively. Even though during the initial loading process, the
aluminum layers and the steel core are elongated equally, the strand settlement and
deformation in the aluminum layers during initial sagging, permanently lengthens the
aluminum strand layers but not the steel core. This can be seen by reducing the total
conductor tension. The aluminum layer elongation decreases along the final stress-
strain curve AL-F and the steel core elongation decreases along the same ST stress-
strain curve which it followed initially (no plastic elongation of the steel core).
The composite conductor elongation decreases along the total curve AL-F+ST reaching
a composite elongation of approximately -0.025% when the aluminum stress becomes
zero. At this point, the composite conductor curve changes suddenly to that of the steel
core alone (if we ignore the possibility of compressive forces in the aluminum layers).
If the Drake conductor, initially installed at a tension of 60 MPa, remains in place without
high ice and wind loads for 10 years, the aluminum layers will elongate plastically due to
metallurgical creep but the steel core will not. This is demonstrated in Figure 31.
64
The permanent creep elongation of the aluminum layers due to metallurgical creep over
10 years yields the following results:
- The composite conductor tension is reduced from 60 to approximately 49 MPa as

may be seen by following the bare conductor catenary curve from A to A.
- The composite conductor elongation increases from 0.045% to 0.065%.
- The aluminum layer tension is reduced from 31 to 17 MPa (B to B)
- The steel core tension increases from 29 MPa to 32 MPa even though the
composite conductor tension decreases.
486 mm2 26/7 Drake ACSR in 180 m span showing final

component tensions after 10 years of creep at 15C
70.0
A
60.0
AL-I+ST
50.0 A'
STRESS - MPa
Catenary Curve for

AL+ST after Bare Conductor
40.0
10 yr creep
B C'
30.0
C
20.0 B'
10.0
Plastic Elongation of
Aluminum Layers 15C
D 0.0 D
-0.1 -0.05 0 0.05 0.1 0.15
% ELONGATION
Figure 31 - Application of Experimental Plastic Elongation method in calculating

aluminum and steel core component stresses after 10 years of creep elongation
at 15oC for Drake ACSR initially installed at 20%RTS.
As is typical of creep in ACSR conductor, the plastic elongation of the aluminum layers
yields an increase in the elastic elongation of the steel core.
6.3.3 Calculating Final sag-tension at high temperature with EPE model

Another advantage of EPE model becomes apparent at high conductor temperatures.
Figure 32 illustrates how the experimental plastic elongation (EPE) conductor model
allows one to calculate sag-tension at a high conductor temperature (100oC) accounting
for permanent creep elongation of the aluminum layers over 10 years at 15oC .
65
486 mm2 26/7 Drake ACSR in 180 m span showing tension at

100C after 10 years of creep at 15C.
70.0
A
60.0
50.0 A'
STRESS - MPa
Catenary Curve for

Bare Conductor
40.0
C' A''
30.0
20.0 B' B"
10.0
Th elong of Steel core Thermal Elong of Alum

0.0
-0.1 -0.05 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3
% ELONGATION
Figure 32 - Conductor Sag-tension calculation for high temperature after 10yr

creep elongation at 15C.
The thermal elongation of the aluminium layers of the Drake ACSR (A1/S1A) conductor
is twice as much as the steel core per degree increase in temperature. The zero-tension
%elongation of the aluminum layers at 15oC (after 10 years of creep elongation) is
0.03%. It increases to 0.022% when the conductor temperature increases to 100oC. The
zero-tension %elongation of the steel core at 15oC is -0.06%. It increases to +0.04% as
the core temperature increases to 100oC. As a result of the difference in thermal
elongation rate of the aluminum layers and the steel core, and the permanent creep
elongation of the aluminum layers, the tension at 100oC is entirely in the steel core and
any further increase in sag at higher temperatures occurs at the thermal elongation rate of
the steel core alone.
For this ACSR conductor, in this span, the knee-point temperature is found to be 90oC.
Thus under these final conditions, the ACSR conductor is supported entirely by the steel
core at temperatures at 90oC. For ACSR conductors with a single layer of aluminum
strands, the aluminum layers cannot support significant aluminum compression force at
temperatures above the kneepoint but ACSR with multiple layers of aluminum wires can
support some modest amount of compression. Thus with multiple aluminum layer
ACSR, the compressive force in the aluminum layers increases the tension in the steel
core causes more
The kneepoint temperature also depends upon the span length and upon the relative
area of steel and aluminium in the A1/S1 conductor. Generally, as is shown in Table 14,
66
taken from Technical Brochure 244, the kneepoint temperature is lower for A1/S1
conductors with a high percentage of steel and for short spans.
Table 14 - "Knee-point temperatures" of A1/S1 (ACSR) as a function of stranding

and span length determined by the Alcoa graphical method. All conductors have
an aluminium strand area of 403 mm2.
A1/S1 Steel Span Kneepoint Temp [oC]
Name Stranding mm2 m No Alum 20 MPa of
Compression Alum
Compression
Tern 45/7 28 300 150 156

Condor 54/7 53 300 100 112
Drake 26/7 66 300 70 88
Mallard 30/7 92 300 32 52
Drake 26/7 66 450 74 100

Drake 26/7 66 300 70 88
Drake 26/7 66 200 55 71
Drake 26/7 66 100 42 50
Table 14 lists the kneepoint temperatures for these conductor spans under final
conditions, that is, they include the plastic elongation of the aluminium strands that
occurs as a result of tension loading over time. When first installed, the kneepoint
temperatures are higher.
67
7.0 CONDUCTOR PARAMETER STUDIES

Clearly there is quite a range of sag-tension calculation methods in use in the industry. A
detailed comparison of the three major ones is made in Section 6.4, using two different
examples. But, perhaps, even more important than the method used are the differences in
how a conductors elastic, plastic, and thermal elongation are modeled.
In this section a sensitivity study of the different parameters involved in the calculation
methods is carried out, in order to see how they affect final results. The study is based
upon the case discussed earlier in this document: a 468 mm2 conductor, 26/7 A1/S1
Drake, in a 300 m span, with an initial tension of 28.02 kN at 15 C. The method used in
this example is the Load-Strain Method, but it can be proved that other methods would
lead to similar results. In Table 15 there is a summary of sensitivities for the different
calculation parameters.
Other factors, which may cause significant errors in calculated sag-tension values that are
not considered here, include imperfect tension equalization in adjacent spans due to
extremely high conductor temperatures or unequal ice loads, flexibility of strain
structures, temperature difference between strands, and other factors such as those
discussed in section 2.4.
7.1 Conductor Weight

As pointed out in Section 2.4, conductor weight usually exceeds the nominal value by
0.2% to 0.6%. Also, during the life of an overhead line, the conductors mass can be
greater due to tarnishing effects, humidity or pollution, which can lead to greater sags and
tensions than expected.
However, this slight increase in weight normally does not significantly affect final sags
due to its small quantity. In this example, an increase of 3% in the conductor weight has
been considered, and sag increments at any temperature are not greater than 0.19 m (see
Table 15). These increments are very constant with temperature. In general, for the same
Ax/Sxy conductor the kneepoint temperature shifts upward as conductor weight
increases.
68

Sensitivity to differences in Conductor w [N/m]
10.50
10.00
9.50
9.00
8.50
8.00
7.50
7.00
6.50
6.00
5.50
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Initial Final Final + 3%Weight Final + 5% Weight

Figure 33 - Sensitivity of Sag-tension calculations to variation in conductor weight
per unit length.
Tensions at low temperatures, which can have importance due to aeolian vibrations, are
minimally affected. For this case, an increase of 3% in conductor weight produces an
increment of only 0.1 kN on the final tension at 15C.
In the improbable case that the weight of the conductor would increase considerably (say
by 5%) the sags would also increase by 0.3m with respect to the nominal calculation
values.
7.2 Elastic Elongation

All of the sag-tension calculation methods recognize that the stress-strain behavior of
stranded conductors is essentially linear for short times and moderate stress levels once
the conductor has been installed. This can be seen from the final curve of the load-strain
method, whose slope is the final modulus of the conductor. But in reality the elastic
modulus of the materials used for overhead conductors are a function of temperature and
exact values are not always correct.
Variations of elastic modulus of either steel or aluminium change the final value of the
conductors coefficient of thermal expansion. Also, when considering composite
conductors, variations in elasticity directly affects the kneepoint temperature, resulting in
sag differences.
69
Nevertheless, variations in the conductors elastic modulus do not greatly affect sag-
tension values. For example, an increment of 10% of the value of both the aluminium and
steel elastic modulus can cause a sag decrement of only 0.02m at 60C, and 0.04m at
120C.
At low temperatures, there are also no significant differences in tensions, so elastic

modulus has minimal effect on aeolian vibration risks.

Sensitivity oto Differences in Elastic Modulus
10.50
10.00
9.50
9.00
8.50
8.00
7.50
7.00
6.50
6.00
5.50
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Initial Final Final + 10% E Final + 100% E
Figure 34 - Sensitivity of Sag-tension calculations to variation in conductor elastic

modulus.
7.3 Plastic Elongation

The accurate determination of a conductors plastic elongation, either due to long time
periods at modest tension levels (creep) or short time periods at high stress (design
loading), is very important with regard to maintaining adequate electrical clearances
along the line during its lifetime. As described in Sections 5 and 6, Load-Strain and
Strain Summation Methods use experimental data to model the long-term creep
elongation in aluminium strands, and the plastic elongation due to high load events.
Conversely, linear methods approximate these plastic elongations by general formulae or
typical values, as described in IEC Technical Report 1597. For example, a typical value
of 0.05 % is given for A1/Sxy conductors.
The different ways in which permanent plastic elongation is modeled may lead to
significant differences in sag, even (or specially) at moderate temperatures. Additionally,
70
the conductor stress-strain model under high stress events has an influence on the
maximum conductor tension transmitted to the towers. In order to simplify and evaluate
only the value sensitivity, rather than the method, the creep and the permanent elongation
due to high loads have been combined as plastic elongation, in the same way as the
Linear Methods approximates these effects. Again, in this case the kneepoint temperature
is significantly affected. As plastic elongation increases, the kneepoint temperature
decreases, causing sag differences at low temperatures only, assuming no creep of the
steel core. On the other hand, for homogeneous All Aluminium Conductors this is not an
issue, but plastic elongation is much more critical.
The results for this example are shown in Table 15, where it can be seen that for
moderate conductor temperatures the difference between considering a plastic elongation
of 0.03% (equivalent temperature shift of approximately 20C) or 0.05% (equivalent
temperature shift of approximately 33C) can cause a sag difference of about 0.44m.
These differences come to zero above the kneepoint temperature. If we consider 0.06 %
plastic elongation (equivalent temperature shift of approximately 40C), the sag
difference can reach 0.72m at 15C.

Sensitivity to Differences in Plastic Elongation of Aluminum
10.50
10.00
9.50
9.00
8.50
8.00
7.50
7.00
6.50
6.00
5.50
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Initial Final (0.03%) Final (0.05%) Final (0.06%)
Figure 35 - Sensitivity of Sag-tension calculations to variation in plastic

elongation of Aluminum.
7.4 Thermal elongation
As with plastic elongation, thermal elongation variations translate directly into sag
clearance variations and can have an influence when determining sags at elevated
operating temperatures. On the other hand, thermal contraction at low temperature affects
the tension attained during periods when aeolian vibration is most damaging.
71
Although most calculation methods assume that the coefficient of thermal expansion is
constant, in reality it is a function of the stress and the elastic modulus [29]. The values
used for aluminium and steel strands are usually 23*10-6 and 11.510-6 per oC,
respectively, and the composite coefficient is determined as described in Section 5.2.
The variations in coefficient of thermal expansion can cause relevant changes in

calculated sags at elevated temperatures. An increase of 10% of both aluminium and steel
thermal expansion coefficients (i.e. an increase in 10% of composite coefficient) causes
an increase in sag of 0.18m at 90C and 0.22m at 120C. This sag variation can reach
0.56m at 120C for an increase of 30% of both aluminium and steel thermal expansion
coefficients.
It can be noted in this case again that the knee-point temperature decreases as thermal
expansion coefficient increases.
For low temperatures, increments of thermal expansion coefficient cause decrements of

sag and increments of tension. For a 10% increment of both aluminium and steel thermal
expansion coefficients we obtain a tension increment of 0.22kN at 0C and for a 30%
increment we obtain a tension increment of 0.67kN at 0C.

Sensitivity to Coef. Thermal Expansion (CTE)
10.50
10.00
9.50
9.00
8.50
8.00
7.50
7.00
6.50
6.00
5.50
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Initial Final Final (CTE+10%) Final (CTE+30%)
Figure 36 - Sensitivity of Sag-tension calculations to variation in thermal

elongation rate.
72
Table 15 shows some values, demonstrating some of the sensitivity of the different
parameters involved in the sag-tension calculation in the example case given in section
2.1.
Table 15 - Table of Basic Sag-tension Sensitivities

26/7 A1/S1 DRAKE. 300 m Span. 28,02 kN @ 15C Initial
Sag in m
15C 60C 90C 120C
Initial Condition 6.42 7.82 8.71 9.57
Final Condition (0.03% plastic elongation) 7.12 8.65 9.24 9.72
Sag variation (in m) with respect to Final Condition (0.03% plastic elongation)
15C 60C 90C 120C
3% Increment in Conductor Weight +0.19 +0.16 +0.17 +0.16
5% Increment in Conductor Weight +0.31 +0.27 +0.28 +0.26
10% Increment in Elastic Modulus +0.00 -0.02 -0.08 -0.04
100% Increment in Elastic Modulus +0.00 -0.10 -0.13 -0.06
Consider 0.05% Plastic Elongation +0.44 +0.05 +0.01 +0.01
Consider 0.06% Plastic Elongation +0.72 +0.06 +0.01 +0.01
10% Increment in Thermal Coefficient +0.00 +0.15 +0.18 +0.22
30% Increment in Thermal Coefficient +0.00 +0.34 +0.43 +0.56
7.5 Errors at elevated temperature

As with plastic elongation, thermal elongation errors translate directly into sag clearance
errors and can have an important influence on the public safety. Given the increasing
tendency to operate transmission lines close to their thermal limits, there is a genuine
concern that minimum electrical clearances may not be adequately maintained.
Technical Brochure 244 contains a thorough discussion of the various sources of sag
error at high temperature. Table 2 from that brochure summarizes the most important
sources of sag error at high temperature:
Table 16 - Various high temperature sag errors.

Typical error magnitudes in high temperature sag calculations
ACSR Drake ACSR Condor ACSR Tern
Aluminium area (strands) 403 mm2 (26) 403 mm2 (54) 403 mm2 (45)
Steel area (strands) 66 mm2 (7) 53 mm2 (7) 28 mm2 (7)
Final tension at 20oC 25 800 N 23 150 N 19 100 N
Equivalent span length 250 m 250 m 250 m
Sag at 20C 4.84 m 5.06 m 5.36 m
Effect of calculation methods on final 120 C sag:

Calculation assuming constant modulus 7.76 m 7.78 m 8.53 m
Graphical method with no Al compression 7.00 m 7.53 m 8.53 m
Graphical method with typical 20 MPa 7.32 m 7.73 m 8.53 m
maximum compression
Additional sag errors at 120 C :
73
Temperature difference core/surface +0.03 m +0.05 m +0.06 m

Change of elastic modulus vs. temperature +0.15 m +0.11 m +0.06 m
High temperature creep 0 0 +0.50 m
Multiple span effects +0.6 to -1.0 +0.5 to -0.9 m +0.5 to -0.8 m
Effect of core magnetization losses 0 + 0.07 m +0.05 m
Effect of manufacturing temperature +/- 0.14 +/- 0.12 0
Table 16 lists the sag errors produced by different knee-point assumptions. It also
includes estimates of sag errors due to other relatively minor sources of calculation
error including consideration of radial temperature differences between the steel core and
outside of the conductor, changes in elastic modulus with temperature, non-ideal ruling
span effects, etc. Note that the errors due to non-ideal ruling span effects are generally
larger than those due to the other factors. Sags are usually greater than predicted in the
shortest spans and less than predicted for relatively long spans.
7.6 Thermal elongation at low temperature.

Thermal contraction at low temperature affects the tension attained during periods when
aeolian vibration is most damaging. Sag-tension calculation errors are unlikely to be
large enough to be important in estimating aeolian vibration levels given the variation
and uncertainty in other factors such as terrain and air temperature.
74
8.0 References
Documents listed in the Reference Section are specifically referred to in the brochure.
1 IEC 1089, Round wire concentric lay overhead electrical stranded conductors,
First Edition, 1991.
2 IEC 1597, Overhead electrical conductors Calculation methods for stranded

bare conductors, First Edition, 1995.
3 Aluminum Association, Aluminium Electrical Conductor Handbook, Second

Edition 1982, New York.
4 Barrett, JS, Dutta S., and Nigol, O., A New Computer Model of A1/S1A (ACSR)
Conductors, IEEE Trans., Vol. PAS-102, No. 3, March 1983, pp 614-621.
5 Dwight H.B., Sag Calculations for Transmission Lines, AIEE Transactions,

May, 1926, pp.796-805.
6 Ehrenburg, D.O., Transmission Line Catenary Calculations, AIEE Paper,

Committee on Power Transmission & Distribution, July 1935.
7 Lummis J., Ficher H.D., Practical application of sag and tension calculations to
transmission line design, AIEE Transactions, paper 54-501
8 Martin J.S., Sag calculations by the use of Martins Table (book), Copperweld
Steel Co., Pa, 1031
9 Southwire Company, Overhead Conductor Manual, 1994.
10 IEEE Subcommittee 15.11, IEEE Guide to the Installation of Overhead

Transmission Line Conductors, IEEE Standard 524-1993, Published by IEEE, New
York, NY.
11 Thayer, E.S., Computing tensions in transmission lines, Electrical World,

Vol.84, no.2, July 12, 1924
12 Healy, E.S., Wright, A.J., Unbalanced conductor tensions, AIEE Transactions,

Sept. 1926, pp.1064-1070
13 IEEE Subcommittee 15.11, Limitations of the Ruling Span Method for Overhead
Line Conductors at High Operating Temperatures. Report of IEEE WG on Thermal
Aspects of Conductors, IEEE WPM 1998, Tampa, FL, Feb. 3, 1998
14 CIGRE SC22/WG11.04 Safe design tension with respect to aeolian vibrations. -

Part I: Single unprotected conductors, ELECTRA, no.186, October 1999, pp. 53-87.
75
15 CIGRE SC22/WG11.04 "Safe design tensions with respect to aeolian vibrations.

Part II: Damped single conductors with dampers" Electra Vol 198, Oct 2001.
16 CIGRE SCB2/WG 11.04 Overhead conductor safe design tension with respect to
aeolian vibrations with Part III: Bundled conductor lines, ELECTRA, no.220, June
2005, pp 48-59. Technical Brochure No. 273, 2005.
17 Varney T., Aluminium Company of America, Graphic Method for Sag Tension
Calculations for A1/S1A (ACSR) and Other Conductors., Pittsburg, 1927
18 Aluminium Association, Stress-Strain-Creep Curves for Aluminium Overhead

Electrical Conductors, Published 7/15/74.
19 Rawlins, C.B., Some Effects of Mill Practice on the Stress-Strain Behavior of

ACSR, IEEE WPM 1998, Tampa, FL, Feb. 1998.
20 Barrett, JS, and Nigol, O., Characteristics of A1/S1A (ACSR) Conductors as

High Temperatures and Stresses, IEEE Trans., Vol. PAS-100, No. 2, February 1981,
pp 485-493
21 Harvey, JR and Larson RE. Use of Elevated Temperature Creep Data in Sag-
Tension Calculations. IEEE Trans., Vol. PAS-89, No. 3, pp. 380-386, March 1970
22 Harvey, JR and Larson, RE. Creep Equations of Conductors for Sag-Tension

Calculations. IEEE Paper C72 190-2
23 Harvey, JR. Creep of Transmission Line Conductors. IEEE Trans., Vol. PAS-88,
No. 4, pp. 281-285, April 1969
24 CIGRE WG 22.05, "A Practical Method of Conductor Creep Determination

Electra, No. 24, pp. 105-137, October 1972.
25 CIGRE WG 22.05 (12), "Permanent Elongation of Conductors. Predictor

Equations and Evaluation Methods", Electra, No. 75, pp. 63-98, March 1981.
26 Aluminium Association, A Method of Stress-Strain Testing of Aluminium

Conductor and ACSR and A Test Method for Determining the Long Time Tensile
Creep of Aluminium Conductors in Overhead Lines, January, 1999, The Aluminium
Association, Washington, DC 20006, USA.
27 IEC 61395, Overhead electrical conductors Creep test procedures for stranded
conductors, First Edition, 1998.
76

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324

First edition: June 2007

Convenor of WG B2.12: D. Douglass (United States)

H. Argasinska (Poland), K. Bakic (Slovenia), Anand Goel (Canada), S.

Former Members of WG B2.12 who contributed to this brochure:

Other members of Study Committee B2 who participated in the writing, editing,

WG B2.11 C. B. Rawlins (United States), D. Havard (Canada), K. Papailiou

Designated Study Committee B2 Reviewers

Study Committee B2 Members

Members of IEEE Subcommittee 15.11 Towers, Poles, and Conductors who

CIGRE - copyright 2016

5.4.4 Long-time Creep Plastic Elongation with non-homogeneous stranded

Figure 29 - Sag-tension calculations of maximum, loaded conductor tension illustrating

Initial Installed Sag @15C

Final Unloaded Sag @15C

Sag @Max Ice/Wind Load

Sag @Max Electrical Load

Mechanical Coupling of Spans

Conductor Tension Limits

Figure 3 - Conductor elongation diagram.

26/7 A1/S1 DRAKE. 300 m Span, 28 kN @ 15C Initial

Initial Final Final (CTE+10%) Final (CTE+30%)

Figure 4 - Influence of variation in the coefficient of thermal elongation on high

ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials.

Creep Elongation see Elongation, Plastic

Design Loading Plastic Elongation see Elongation, Plastic

EC (grade aluminium) Electrical Conductor grade aluminium also called A1 or

Elongation, Elastic Bare overhead conductors elongate under tension, increasing in

I.A.C.S. or IACS - International Annealed Copper Standard.

IEC - International Electrotechnical Commission.

Initial Plastic Elongation see Elongation, Plastic

Knee-point Temperature - The conductor temperature above which the aluminium

Manufactured Conductor Length The conductor manufactured length as wound onto a

Maximum Allowable Conductor Temperature - The highest conductor temperature at

approximated as linear but are commonly modeled by non-linear, higher order

S - Steel coefficient of linear thermal elongation, oC-1

AS - Composite aluminium-steel coefficient of linear thermal elongation, oC-1

AS - The strain in all the strands of an ACSR conductor.

CA Total plastic elongation of aluminum strands, .

S - The strain in the steel core of an ACSR conductor.

A - Conductor cross-sectional area, mm2

AA - Cross sectional area of aluminium strands, mm2

AS - Cross sectional area of steel strands, mm2

AAS - Total cross-sectional area, mm2

E - Modulus of elasticity of the conductor, GPa

EA - Modulus of elasticity of aluminium, GPa

ES - Modulus of elasticity of steel, GPa

EAS - Modulus of elasticity of aluminium-steel composite, GPa

H The horizontal component of tension in the conductor, N

h The vertical distance between support point elevations, m

HA - The horizontal component of the tension in the aluminium strands of an aluminum

HAS - The total horizontal tension in an ACSR conductor

L Length of conductor between supports, m

LH - Length of conductor under horizontal tension H, m

x Horizontal distance from conductor low point to supporting structure, m

w Conductor weight per unit length, N/m