SAG AND TENSION ANALYSIS 10.1 INTRODUCTION Conductor sag and tension analysis is an important consideration in over- head distribution line design as well as in overhead transmission line design. The quality and continuity of electric service supplied over a line (regardless of whether it is a distribution, a subtransmission, or a transmission line) depend largely on whether the conductors have been properly installed. Thus, the designing engineer must determine in advance the amount of sag, and tension to be given the wires or cables of a particular line at a given temperature. In order to specify the tension to be used in stringing the line conductors, the values of sag and tension for winter and summer conditions must be known. Tension in the conductors contributes to the mechanical load on structures at angles in the line and at dead ends. Excessive tension may cause mechanical failure of the conductor itself. The factors affecting the sag of a conductor strung between supports are: 1. Conductor load per unit length. 2. Span, that is, distance between supports. 3. Temperature. 4. Conductor tension. In order to determine the conductor load properly, the factors that need to be taken into account are: 623624 SAG AND TENSION ANALYSIS 1. Weight of conductor itself. 2. Weight of ice or snow clinging to wire. 3. Wind blowing against wire. The maximum effective weight of the conductor is the vector sum of the vertical weight and the horizontal wind pressure. It is very important to include the most adverse condition. The wind is considered to be blowing at right angles to the line and to act against the projected area of the conductor, including the projected area of ice or snow that may be clinging to it. Economic design dictates that conductor sag should be minimum to refrain from extra pole height, to provide sufficient clearance above ground level, and to avoid providing excessive horizontal spacing between conduc- tors to prevent them swinging together in midspan. Conductor tension pulls the conductor up and decreases its sag. At the same time, tension elongates the conductor, from elastic stretching, which tends to relieve tension and increase sag. The elastic property of meta wire is measured by its modulus of elasticity. The modulus of elasticity of a material equals the stress per unit of area divided by the deformation per unit of length. That is, since T o= a Psi (10.1) where o = stress per unit area in pounds per square inches conductor tension in pounds actual metal cross section of conductor in square inches, in. emil/ 1,273,000 The resultant elongation e of the conductor due to the tension is ae stress modulus of elasticity Of course, if the modulus of elasticity is low, the elongation is high, and vice versa. Thus, a small change in conductor length has a comparatively large effect on conductor sag and tension. Sags and stresses in conductors are dependent on the initial tension put ‘on them when they are clamped in place and are due to the weight of the conductors themselves, to ice or sleet clinging to them, and to wind pressure. The stress in the conductor is the parameter on which everything else is based. But the stress itself is determined by the sag in the conductor as it hangs between adjacent poles or towers. Since the stress depends on sag, any span can be used provided the poles or towers are high cnough and strong enough. The matter is merely one of extending the catenary in both directions. But the cost of poles or towers sharply increases with height andEFFECT OF CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE 625 loading. Thus, the problem becomes the balancing of a larger number of lighter and shorter poles or towers against a smaller number of heavier and taller ones, 10.2 EFFECT OF CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE Sags and stresses vary with temperature on account of the thermal expan- sion and contraction of the conductors. A temperature rise increases conductor length, with resulting increase in sag and decrease in tension. A temperature drop causes reverse effects. The change in length per unit of conductor length per degree fahrenheit of temperature change is the tem- perature coefficient of linear expansion. The maximum stress occurs at the lowest temperature, when the line has contracted and is also possibly covered with ice and sleet. J. If the conductor unstressed or the conductor stress is constant while the temperature changes, the change in length of the conductor is A= Iya At (10.2) where where 1, = initial temperature J, = conductor length at initial temperature 1, 1, = conductor length at 1, a=coefficient of linear expansion of conductor per degree fahrenheit Ar= change in temperature Al= change in conductor length in feet 2. If the temperature is constant while the conductor stress changes (i.e. loading), the change in length of the conductor is oe (10.3) where AT=T,-T where 7, = conductor initial tension in pounds AT = change in conductor tension in pounds M = modulus of elasticity of conductor in pound inches A= actual metal cross section of conductor in square inches