Busbar sizing for

substations
Hasala Dharmawardena
Engineer Designs
LTL Projects PVT. LTD.

Assumptions
Sizing is relevant only for
Al E91E (6063 T6)
Tubular

No structures are attached to the

busbar
Busbar

Contents
1. Minimize bending moment
at joints
2. Span width specific
requirements
3. Post Insulator Sizing

1. Bending Moments
For equal Span width, the position of minimum
bending depends only on
Length of a Span
The Number of Spans
The Type of support e.g. Fixed , Pin

Assumptions
S= Slip fit
Support
F= Fixed
Support
E=Expansion
Support

Points of Zero Bending

Moment

Workings of the excel sheet

Example output
Input are showed in
RED boxes

2. Deflection and Stress

Deflection caused
by the weight of
the tube
should be less
than 150th of the
length

Total stresses on
the tube should be
less than the yield
stress

Both should
be
simultaneou
sly satisfied

Prerequisites

1. Wind Forces
2. Short circuit
Forces

Wind forces
FW CKGV Id
2

Where K is a constant depending on

height and exposure , G a constant
depending on wind speed, V wind velocity
and d external diameter of the tube.

Short Circuit Forces

2

1.6 I SC
FSC 4
10 D
Where Isc is the maximum Short circuit
current and D is the conductor centerline
to centerline spacing

2.1 Deflection
LD C

384 E J YB
5 FG

Where L is the maximum span length, Y

maximum deflection, J cross section moment of
inertia and F bus unit weight.

2.2 Fiber Stress

LS C
'

K FA S
FT

Where L is the maximum span length, FA

maximum fiber stress of 6063 - T6, S section
modulus, K is a constant which depends on
support type and number of supports and FT is
the total force
Combines both wind forces and gravitational

2.2 Fiber Stress ctd

Total force FT is given by
2

FT [( FW FSC ) FG ]
2

Workings of the excel sheet

Example output
Input are showed in
RED boxes

Example output ctd

Input are showed in
RED boxes

3. Post Insulator
Total insulator cantilever load is calculated by
assuming vertically mounted insulator with
horizontal bus.
Furthermore the effective weight of the mass
transmitted to one bus support depends on
the bus configuration and support conditions.

3. Post Insulator ctd

FW I ( H i H f ) FW B ( H i H f ) FSB
FIS K [

)]
2
Hi
Hi

Where FIS is the load on the insulator, FWI is

the wind force on the PI, FSB is the short
circuit force transmitted to the PI, FWB is the
wind force transmitted to the PI.

Example output

Thank You