A paper to be presented at the 28/Ë Annual Conven­

tion of the American Institute of Electrical Engt'

neers,Chicago, III., June 26-30, 1911.
Copyright 1911. By A. I. E. E.
(Subject to final revision for the Transactions.)

SAG CALCULATIONS FOR S U S P E N D E D W I R E S

BY PERCY H. THOMAS

The method here described for calculating sags, and strains

in suspended wires was devised to shorten the process of the
transmission line computations, especially where the effect of
temperature is to be considered. The method is a semi-graphical
one and involves no numerical operations other than may be
performed by the simplest slide rule manipulation. The method
is based on the assumption that the suspended conductor con­
forms to the catenary, which is generally considered to be the
actual fact, although as far as the writer is informed no scientifi­
cally accurate verification on a large scale under practical con­
ditions has been attempted. The results obtained by the use
of the catenary basis will not differ from those derived from the
usual parabola formulae more than 10 per cent in the strain
for a sag of 7.5 per cent. For larger sags, however, the dif­
ference rapidly increases. A description of the use of the method
will be given, followed by a brief statement of the mathematical
justification therefor.

METHOD OF MAKING NUMERICAL DETERMINATIONS

The problem is the determination of the various quanti­
ties sag, span, strain and angle of wire at support under any
definite conditions, and also the effect on these quantities of
change in load or change in temperature after the wire has been
secured in position.
Imagine the given span to be reduced in size, without changing
the shape of the curve, until the span is one foot. The sag will
then be reduced in direct proportion to the reduction of span,
in other words the percentage of sag will remain the same. The
NOTE:—This paper is to be presented at the 28th Annual Convention
of the A. 1. E. E., Chicago, June 26-30, 1911. Notice of oral discussion
or any written discussion should be mailed to reach the Secretary before
the date of the meeting. Written discussion received within 30 days
thereafter will be treated as if presented at the meeting.
1131
1132 THOMAS: SAG CALCULATIONS [June 27

stress in the wire and the length of wire, also, will be reduced
in the same ratio. Again, the stress in the wire for a given span
for a definite sag is directly proportional to the weight per foot of
the wire or the combined effect of weight of wire and ice or of
the combined effect of the weight of wire and ice and of wind
pressure.
In Plate I the curve marked " Sag " shows the relation be­
tween the strain in the wire at the point of support, and the sag
in a one-foot span with the total load on the wire of one pound
per foot.
From this curve the sag in any span can be found when the
length of span, the total load per foot, and the stress to be' al-

00
TI lμ 1
M M M
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1 Iv M I M M M M M M M M M
"Ί \i 1 1
1 1 M 1 1 1\ 1 1 1 M M 1 1 1 M M M 1 1 1 i M 1 1 1 1 M 1 M M M 1 1 1 M i 1 1 1 1 1 i M 1 M M M
X MMM!1 M M 1 M M M M M M
M/r
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'lll\ 11111111H11M1111111111111111111M11
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*- MM Hi 1 M
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P. P 2 P3 ÑË P S Pe ΙίίΙΙΜ^
LENGTH 1.000 1.0004 1.0008 1.0012 1.0016 1.0020 1.0024 1.0028 1.0032 1.0036 1.0040 LENGTH
8AO 0 .002 .001 .006 .008 .010 .012 .014 .016 .018 .020 .022 .024 .02(

PLATE I.—Sag calculations for suspended wires

lowed in the wire are given. Divide this allowable stress in

pounds by the span in feet and by the load per foot on the wire.
This will give the stress at the support on a span one foot long of
the same shape having a loading of one pound per foot. From
the sag curve on Plate I then read the sag (abscissa) correspond­
ing to this stress (ordinate), which is the actual sag for the one
foot span. This sag multiplied by the span will be the sag in
feet of the actual span.
In case the sag is given instead of the stress, the corresponding
sag for the one-foot span may be obtained by dividing the given
sag by the span, both in feet, and the stress for a one-foot span
may be obtained from the sag curve. From this the stress in the
1911] THOMAS: SAG CALCULATIONS 1133

actual conductor may be obtained by multiplying by the span

in feet and the load on the wire in pounds per foot.
To determine the effect of change in temperature, find the
length of the wire in the one-foot span (abscissa) shown on the
length curve on Plate I as corresponding with the stress in the
wire (ordinate). It should be noted that the sag and the length
curves in Plate I have the same ordinates, namely, the stress
values. Since the wire may be assumed to be fastened at the
supports at the original temperature and sag chosen, no subse­
quent slipping will occur, and any subsequent change in tem­
perature will tend to change the length of the wire by expansion,
and consequently to change the sag. Since the sag is extremely
sensitive to the length of the wire, even the very small changes
in length resulting from changes in temperature will be im­
portant. But with every change in sag there is an important
change in stress, which will change the amount of stretch in the
wire due to the stress. These two effects are simultaneous and
are closely interrelated, and must be considered together. Hav­
ing given the stress and having found the length of wire for the
corresponding one-foot span, the length of wire without stress
may be calculated from the modulus of elasticity M, viz., by the
stress
formula, the elongation or stretch = —r——. If this unstressed

length be marked on the axis of X in Plate I as at Pu a straight

line connecting this point with the point on the length curve
corresponding to the actual stress as already determined, will be
the stretch curve of the wire with stress. Such a line is marked A.
On the other hand, if it be assumed that the stress remain
constant and the temperature change, the wire will change in
length proportionally with the temperature change in ac­
cordance with its proper coefficient of expansion. If it be as­
sumed that the sag be desired for every 20 deg. above or below
the initial temperature, the length of conductor unstressed may
be calculated for these several temperatures, and these lengths
marked on the chart on the axis X as P 2 , Pz, Pi, etc. These
points do not represent actual lengths of wire as hung in the
span, since they are unstressed lengths, but the actual lengths
taken by the conductor for the different temperatures can be
obtained by drawing lines, as A 2, Az, A A, etc., through the several
points P 2 , Pz, PA, etc., parallel to the line A, the stretch curve of
the wire at the initial temperature, which lines will be the stretch
curves for their respective temperatures. The point of inter-
1134 THOMAS: SAG CALCULATIONS [June 27

section of these stretch lines with the length curve will give the
stresses which the suspended wire will actually have at the
several temperatures; the sag corresponding for the one-foot
span can be read on the sag curve from the stress values. The
sags of the actual span can then be obtained as before by multi­
plying by the span.
In some cases where the sag is small the length of wire un­
stressed will be less than one foot, and so will fall off the plot.
In Plate I, for example this would occur on copper wire in a
one-foot span stressed to 12. In such a case the stretch line can
be found by computing the stresses required to produce any two
suitable lengths (as for example, the length under maximum
stress and the one foot length) and drawing the stretch line
therethrough.
Such a stretch line is shown at 0V in Plate I.
The effect of the accumulation of ice and sleet introduces a
new condition, since it increases the load per foot on the wire.
The former stretch curve becomes inapplicable, since it is based
on a different number of pounds per foot, or load on the wire.
The stretch in the actual wire represented by a given ordinate,
if produced by a new condition of loading, other things being
constant, will be changed from that represented by the old
loading in the ratio of the change of loading. That is, if the
load per foot be doubled, a given ordinate will represent twice
as great a stress in the actual wire. Therefore the stretch under
the heavier load can be obtained on plate I by changing the
stretch, that is the increase of length, at any given ordinate
or by changing the stress for any given length in the same pro­
portion as the change in loading. This will give a second
stretch line, making a different angle with the axis of X, and repre­
senting the new condition. Such a line for a double loading is
shown at B, plate I. The point where this line intersects the
length curve will, as before, give the stress in the one-foot wire
corresponding to the new temperature. Similar stretch lines
for the changed loading may be drawn for any temperatures.
The new stretch line corresponding to the line Ox, for the same
case of new loading is 02.
Plate II is similar to plate I, but is intended for actual numeri­
cal determinations and is drawn to three scales suited to different
classes of work. The curves of sag and stress on plate II are
plotted from accurate equations and contain no approximations.
The expansion of metals with temperature and 4 their % stretch with
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P L A TE lr.-Sag calculations for suspended wires {Thomas]

1911] THOMAS: SAG CALCULATIONS 1135

stress do not follow the straight line law exactly, and introduce
a certain error in this as in any method of calculation.
The middle curves are intended for sags up to about 2 per
cent. The left-hand curves from about 2 per cent to 15 per cent,
and the smaller curves in the upper right-hand corner are useful
in special cases to show the effect of very large sags. It is clear
from these curves that after the sag has reached 15 to 20 per cent
there is little reduction of stress by further increase of sag and an
actual increase of stress soon results. These smaller curves will
give an indication of the conditions where a wire has to be
taken down a precipitous place, giving the equivalent of an
abnormally large sag.
Where the height of the two supports is unequal, the length
of the wire on the two sides of the lowest point of the span are not
equal. However, the form of the curve and the stresses in each
half will be the same as if the other part were symmetrical with
it. If, then, the horizontal distance from the higher support to
the lowest point of the wire is known, the stress and sag in this
portion can be determined as though the whole span were equal
to twice this distance. If desired, the lesser strain in the other
portion can be determined in the same manner. The following
formulae give the horizontal distance from the higher support to
the lowest point of the wire, X\\

* 1 = _ 2~ + V (A)

X is the span in feet.

Xi is the horizontal distance in feet from the higher support
to the lowest point of the wire.
t is the difference in height of the two supports in feet.
5" is the stress in pounds in the wire at the highest support,
with one pound per foot load on the conductor.
d is the sag in feet measured from the higher point of support.
Formula (A) is useful when the span and the stress to be al­
lowed in the wire are given, and formula (B) when the span and
the sag are given.
These formulae are approximate, formula A is correct within
2 to 4 per cent when neither sag nor difference in heights of
1136 THOMAS: SAG CALCULATIONS [June 27

supports exceeds 15 per cent of the span. Formula B has an

error of less than 1 per cent under these conditions.
The following examples will make the use of the curves clear.
Assume the given conditions to be:
Size wire No. 00 B. & S. copper.
Span 500 ft.
Safe strength of wire 3140 lb.
Worst conditions, \ in. of ice all around the wire, at 0 deg.
fahr, and wind pressure of 8 lb. per square foot.
Weight of wire and ice per foot, 0.940 lb. wind pressure
per foot, 0.910 lb.; resultant force per foot 1.308 lb.
Then the stress on a one-foot span, for use on plate II
314Q
- - 4 8.
1.308X500
From the curve the sag for the one-foot span is 0.028, and
the sag in the actual span 0.026X500 = 13 ft.
The length of the wire in the one-foot span under these
worst conditions is 1.00193. The length unstressed is

1.00193- --Λ-}~%^ =1.000055 where the modulus of

Éû,õõõ,õõõ
elasticity is taken as 16,000,000—a usual value for copper.
This is the length that would be taken by the actual wire
as it lies tied on the insulators were it unstressed at this
temperature, viz., 0 deg. fahr.
To determine the sags for various conditions when the· ice
is removed and no wind exists, determine the load per foot on the
conductor under the new condition. If the weight of the wire
only is to be taken, giving 0.403 pounds per foot, the ratio of this.
1 308
to the ice and wind condition above is ÃÃ~7ËÏ = <Ç· Therefore,
the stretch when plotted on the curve at the same ordinate as
for the ice and wind condition, would be reduced in the
same proportion, giving a length 1.000632 instead of 1.00193 as
before. The new line showing the stretch curve of the wire for
the no-ice or wind condition must now be drawn from the point
Pi on the axis of X to the new length at the stress 4.8. This
intersects the length curve at the stress 6.8, the sag for which is
the value sought, viz., 0.018 for the one-foot span.
The effect of temperature can be obtained as follows:
Twenty degrees temperature change will mean a change in
length of copper wire, other things remaining the same,, of
1911] THOMAS: SAG CALCULATIONS 1137

0.0000096X20 = 0.000192 feet on plate II, using the coefficient

of expansion 0.0000096. Therefore, the length of wire un­
stressed for various temperatures will be as follows:
20 deg., 1.000247; 40 deg., 1.000439; 60 deg., 1.000631; 80 deg.,
1.000823; 100 deg., 1.001015; 120 deg., 1.001207. By drawing
lines from the several points on the axis of X, parallel to the stretch
line already determined, (two draughtman's triangles may very
conveniently be used for this purpose), a number of points of inter­
section with the length curve will be obtained, giving the follow­
ing stress values: for 20 deg., 6.4; for 40 deg., 6.0; 60 deg., 5.7;
80 deg., 5.3; 100 deg., 5.0; 120 deg., 4.7. The sags cor­
responding are, for 20 deg., 0.0195; 40 deg., 0.0207; 60 deg.,
0.022; 80 deg., 0.0235; 100 deg., 0.025; 120 deg., 0.0265 on the
one-foot curve. Sags on the actual span are obtained by multi­
plying by the span 500 feet, viz., for 20 deg., 0.0195 X500 = 9.75 ft. ;
for 40 deg., 10.35 ft.; 60 deg., 11.0 ft.; 80 deg., 11.75 ft.; 100
deg., 12.5 ft.; 120 deg., 13.25 ft..
Other conditions of stress, as high wind without ice and high
temperature, may be similarly determined.
To illustrate a case in which the height of supports are un­
equal, the following example is added:
Given, high support 40 ft. above the lower; span 500 ft.,
conductor No. 00 copper, allowable stress 3140 lb. The stress
allowable divided by the pounds per foot on the wire, assuming
that the conditions are the same as the ice conditions of the last

example, is — ^ ^ = 2400. From formula (A) the distance from

the high support to the lowest point of the wire is —=—| ———
2ι 5UU
= 442 ft. Then the span would be 2X442 = 884 ft. if the span
were symmetrical and both sides like the higher side. The
calculations for the high side can now be made as before, using
the span as 884 ft. In determining the effect of temperature
changes with unequal heights of supports, a certain inaccuracy
is introduced by the assumption that the length of equivalent
span remains the same; but this can be neglected, except where
the conditions require close working. It is evident that the
effect of temperature changes in such a span will be less than they
would be in a span twice the value X\\ and more than would
be the case with a span twice the length of X — X\\ that is, the
distance from the lower support to the lowest point on the wire.
1138 THOMAS: SAG CALCULATIONS [June 27

Where the span instead of the stress is given, the formula

(B) may be used and the rest of the computation remains the
same.
The sine of the angle made by the wire with the horizontal
is \ the length of wire in the span divided by the strain with one
lb. per ft. weight of wire, and may be obtained from the length
curve. In Plate I, with the length of wire = 1.002, the strain
1002
= 4.7 and the sine= 2 =0.107, and the angle = 6 deg, 7 min.

The sag for this point = 0.0265 per cent.

APPENDIX
The curves of the plates in the present paper are obtained in
the following manner:
The equation of the catenary corresponding in position to
the span wire is

y =
~2 \eh+e h
)

where h represents the distance of the lowest point of the catenary

above the axis of X (not, however, above the ground).
The sag corresponding to any point x y on this curve is y — h.
The sine of the angle made by the tangent of the curve at this
\/~y2 _ ψ
point with the verticle is — . The length of the curve
from the lowest point to the point {x y) is \z'y2 — h2 = \ the
length shown on the curves. The stress along the wire at the
point x y is the total weight (one lb. per ft. assumed) divided
by the sine of the angle thetangent makes with the vertical, =

Vy2 — h2-. =y. This is a very simple and interesting

relation. These equations give the basis for all the necessary
data for the curve. In the actual calculations a number of
suitable values of h and x were assumed and the other quan­
tities calculated from these equations. These values were re­
duced, of course, to a one-foot span by dividing in each case
(except for total length of wire) by 2 x. In the case of total
length of wire the length 2 \Zy2 — h2 must be divided by 2 x.
The formula for supports of uneven height are derived as fol­
lows:
1911] THOMAS: SAG CALCULATIONS 1139

Let h and h respectively be the lengths of wire from the

lowest point of the conductor to the higher and the lower points
of support, and L the total length of the wire. As before
Xi yi and x2 y2 are the coordinates of the wire respectively at the
higher and the lower points of support, and / equals the dif­
ference in height of supports.
From the general formula for length on the catenary, h =
v'yl^h2 and yi^VlJ+h*; l2 = Vy2*-h2 and ^ 2 = v / ( L - / 1 ) 2 + f e 2
2
but yi-t = y2, then VΜJ+h -t = V(L-lμ)2+h2

t2-2 t VΞS~+h? = L2-2 hL (C)

ButS = yi = \/L2+h2

Therefore t2 - 2 t S = L2 - 2 h L and

<.4+Ý(*-ß)
Since -~- will be small compared with S it may usually be

omitted. Also, since I and L respectively nearly equal x and X

for prevalent values of sag, the latter values may be substituted
for the former, giving formula (A) above, viz.,

Again: sag = ^i — h = d combining this with the equation for

l^ — d2
length li2 = yi2 — h2y A = ---~—y---, combining this with equation

(C) above.

l2-2t ^l2+(^^y = L*-2hL

and
1140 THOMAS: SAG CALCULATIONS [June 27

In this equation only the negative sign of the radical meets the
conditions of the problem. The quantity / 2 /L 2 will always
be small in practical transmission work, and may be omitted,
since t/d will always be less than 1. The same substitution of
x for / and X for L may be made as in the case of formula (A)
and we then have formula (B), viz.,

which, by an algebraic transformation equals

X ^' - (B)
Vd-t+Vd
It is interesting to note that this latter form is the formula
derived from the parabolic curve for determining the same
quantity.
By the formula already given, the sine of the angle with the
\Zy2_Jj2
horizontal made by the wire at the point x y is -— as de­
rived from the catenary equation. But Vy2 — h2 is the length of
wire from the lowest point to the point x y, and y is the total
strain in the wire with one lb. per ft. load. Therefore, the
angle can be readily calculated from the plotted length curve
in the one-foot span, taking for Vy2 — h2 one-half the length on
the length curve.
The values from which the curves are plotted are as follows:
Length Sag Strain
1.0000042 0.00125 100.0013
1.0000051 0.00138 90.9105
1.0000061..: 0.00150 83.3348
1.0000071 0.00162 : 76.9247
1.0000082 0.00175 71.4303
1.0000094 0.00188 66.6685
1.0000107 0.00200 62.5020
1.0000118 ·. 0.00212 58.8257
1.0000136 0.00225 55.5578
1.0000151 0.00238 52.6339
1.0000167 0.00250 50.0025
1.0000261 0.00313 40.0031
1.0000372 0.00375 33.3371
1.0000511 0.00438 28.5758
1.0000667 0.00500 25.0050
1.000104 0.00625 20.0063
1.000150 0.00730 16.6742
1.000266 0.01000 12.5100
1.000417 0.01250 10.0125
1.000598 0.01500 8.3483
1911] THOMAS: SAG CALCULATIONS 1141

Length Sag Strain

1.000817 0.01751 7.1604
1.001066 0.02001 6.2700
1.001351 0.02252 5.5781
1.001668 0.02502 5.0250
1.002017 0.02753 4.5730
1.002402 0.03004 4.1967
1.003754 0.03757 3.3709
1.006680 0.05017 2.5502
1.010444 0.06283 2.0628
1.015068 0.07556 1.7422
1.020542 0.08840 1.5170
1.026881 0.10134 1.3513
1.034093 0.11441 1.2255
1.042191 .0.12763 1.1276
1.051185 .0.14100 1.0501
1.061089 0.15455 0.9879
1.083691 .0.18226 0.8965