Application and Design of ADSS Cable

Mingdang Ren, Minhui Mo, Xin Qian

Jiangsu Trigiant Optic-Electric Communication Co., Ltd. WuXi 214206

Abstract: Optical fiber has become an important

transmission medium for power communication and smart grid

construction, with its advantages of light weight, wide channel,
non-conductivity and anti-interference. ADSS cable could be laid
along the power line towers. It is a very economical
communication network construction method, which effectively
utilizes the high-voltage tower resources of power department and
saves huge engineering construction cost. This paper analyzes Figure 2: Micro-section Force Analysis

changes of stress and strain during cabling and operation of ADSS Randomly taking one point from Figure 1, its slope at this

cable in the environment along the circuit power line and point is tgα and internal force is N(x), horizontal force of the

influence on the cable because of these changes. The target and internal force and a vertical component would be H(x) and V(x),

calculation method of the cable design would be given for respectively. Assuming micro-increment ds is taken at this point,

reference by industry colleagues. W would be mass per unit length of the cable, and incremental
segment tail slope would be tg(α+Δα). The external force born by
Keywords: ADSS cable, load variation, sag, span, stress
the micro-segment is shown in Figure 2, and the force of the ds
strain analysis, excess length of fiber, tensile element design
segment is analyzed as following.
1. Operation Status and Strain Analysis of Based on the force balance condition of the micro-
ADSS Fiber Cable incremental segment ds, the equations of balance in the x and y
directions could be derived as following:
Each point of ADSS cable is subjected to the tensile stress
∑ ( ) ( ) ( ) (1)
due to gravity during overhead cabling. The stress intensity would
∑ ( )
depend on the span, sag, self linear density, location and
( ) ( ) ( ) (2)
environmental factors during working. Since the adjacent towers
might be of different height, which is known as without loss of Suspension lines equation of fiber cable could be derived as

generality, coordinates shown in Figure 1 are established for the following:

cable stress analysis [1]. When cable is placed between point A and
C, assuming B is the coordinate origin and is at the same height as
point C, the coordinates of point A, B, C, and D are as shown in
the figure. L would be the span of unequal heights (point A and C)
and l the span of equal heights (point B and C). F would be the
sag of unequal heights, and f the sag of equal heights.
(3)
Based on boundary conditions of point B and C, C1 and C2
could be confirmed and derived as following:
(4)
Based on the boundary condition of point D and equation (4),
the following could be derived:

(5)

The following relation equation could be derived based on

boundary condition of point A:

( ) (6)
Figure1: Overhead Cabling Stress Analysis
 The derived correlation formulas are listed out as in Table 1 (derivation would not be elaborated due to limited space).
Table 1. Correlation Formulas of ADSS Fiber Cable Hanging Line

Basic Formula of Cabling on Simplified Formula of Cabling

Item
Different Heights on the Same Heights

Horizontal Force ( )

Vertical Force ( ) | |

⁄
Internal Force ( ) [( ) ( ) ]

Force on Point A

Force on Point B and C

Force on Point D

( )
Cable Sag ( )

String Length of Cable ̂ { ( ) ( )} ̂ [ ( ) ]

Total Strain  ∑ [ ( )] ∑ ( )

∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
Strain Rate of Cable ̂ ∑ ̂ ∑

( )
Max. Sag Point

( ) ( )
Max. Sag

Original Length of Cable ̂ ∑ ̂ ∑

2. Environmental Factors Influencing on

Assuming mass of cable is m1 and unit is kg/km, the mass
the Strain and Stress of Cable
During the ADSS cabling and operation, the main factors load on the unit length of cable is as following:

affecting the stress and strain of cable are the load (W) of the (8)

cable and the change of the ambient temperature [2]

. The load W 2.2 Ice Load

of the optical cable depends on the self-weight load (W1), ice- The ice gravity load per kilometer of cable is as following:

covered load (W2) and the wind load (W3). The self-weight load ( ) (9)

and the ice load are perpendicular to the ground, thus they could t is ice thickness, whose range is normally within 0~20mm

be directly added. The wind load is parallel to the ground, so the D is cable outer diameter.

load conforms to the vector superposition rule, the value could be 2.3 Wind Load
calculated as following: Wind load is related to air density, wind exposure area and

[( ) ] ⁄
(7) wind speed, which could be calculated as following:

2.1 Mass Load of Fiber Cable (9.8× Cable Density kg/m) ( ) ( ⁄ )

CW is wind correction coefficient, depending on the wind discreteness of the pole span in the tension section should be
exposure area, Surface condition and air temperature, whose range considered into the design of the cable, and the representative pole
is within 1.0~1.2, normally taken as 1.1. span should be calculated and determined as the design basis
ρα is air density and normally taken as standard atmosphere parameters of ADSS cable.
3
pressure under 15℃, which is 0.001226g/cm . In a tension section, there are n spans, 、 、 、 ，the
( ) (10) Representative Pole Span are given by the following formula:
2.4 Meteorological Conditional Division ∑
√ √∑ (12)
Table 2 lists out the load area determined by climatic conditions
for reference. The tensile strength of ADSS cable is designed according to

Table 2. Load Determined by Climatic Conditions of representative pole span, running sag and the allowable strain of

ADSS cable. After the ADSS cable is erected, the sag with large span is
larger, the small is smaller, and the horizontal stress is balanced.
Load Difference
3.2 Erection sag
Climatic Conditions
Over In the operation of ADSS cable, the stress of the cable is
Light Medium Heavy
heavy
obviously affected by the sag. When the cable structure and the
Wire surface ice
≤5 ≤10 ≤15 ≤20
equivalent thickness(mm) representative span of the tension section are fixed, the stress and
Atmospheric temperature
-5 -5 -5 -5 strain of the cable are inversely proportional to the erection sag[4].
when icing(℃)
Max. wind speed when As shown in Figure 3, N1, N2 and N3 respectively represent the
10 10 10 10
icing(m/s)
Max. wind speed without stress of the cable in the sag f1, f2 and f3. When span is fixed, the
25
icing(m/s)
relationship between sag and stress is as follows:
f1＜f2＜f3 ， N1＞N2＞N3
2.5 Influences from Temperature
The geometrical dimensions of various materials would
change in accordance with temperature. Assuming the linear
expansion coefficient of the optical cable is α, the initial
installation temperature is t0,the original cable length is ,Then
when temperature is t,. The cable length changes in accordance
with temperature as following formula:
( ) (11)
Generally, the linear expansion coefficient of the ADSS Figure 3. When representative span fixed, the
cable is very small, and would hardly influence on the accounting. relationship between sag and stress
Therefore, to simply the calculation, it would be ignored. Strain and sag relation of ADSS is determined by the
3. Installation factors affecting stress and following formula:
strain of ADSS cable
The application conditions of ADSS cable have great
influence on its stress and strain, such as pole span and erection The function curve of H~f is as shown in Fig. 4. In the actual
[4]
sag, and they are interrelated application, the sag of cable is very small (far less than the span).
3.1 Representative Pole Span It could be inferred from the curve change that small change of
There are many pole towers in a tension section. The distance the sag will lead to a large change in the cable stress. Particular
between any two adjacent towers is called span. Influenced by attention should be paid to the influence of sag in the design and
natural conditions, the distances between towers are different. application.
However, the structure of the cable in a tension section is the same For example: With the representative pole distance being
and the horizontal tension of the cable is the same. Therefore, the 300m, the cable outer diameter 14.3mm, mass 165kg/km,
installation sag 0.8% (with 300m span, it could be 2.4m), allowed phase sequence. Tables 3 and Figure 5 show several typical tower
cable strain 4.7‰, cable daily stress would be 7.5797kN. If the types and voltage levels and two ADSS hanging points.
installation sag is adjusted to 0.5%, cable stress will increase to Table 3：Tower Voltage Level Table
12.1275kN. Therefore, in the design, the reinforcing elements in
steel reinforced Iron tower
the cable would be adjusted largely. Tower types
concrete nominal nominal height
Voltage Level
height (m) (m)
10~60kV 12 -
110 kV 13 15
154 kV 17 18
220 kV 21 23

Figure 4. Relation curve of cable stress and sag

4. Consideration of Electric Corrosion

and Hanging Point of ADSS Cable
4.1. Jacket tracking resistance requirement
The ADSS cable is mounted on the tower of the high voltage
power line and will run in a higher space potential.
Figure 5: Two hanging points of ADSS cable
Under fog, rain or dew conditions, the surface of ADSS cable [6]
Figure 6 is an example of hanging point selection ,
running in high voltage electric field will be wet, and then the
considering that the nominal height of the tower is only 21m, the
surface dirty layer will form a conductive layer. Driven by the
hanging point position of the optical cable is designed on the
induced voltage, the grounding current will be formed between
lower crossbar, and its spatial position is: 1.8m in the X direction
the surface of ADSS cable and the cable clamp connected to the
and 22.8m in the Y direction. The static space potential of this
same tower. Current-generated heat evaporates water, forming a
position is about 18 kV, and the material of anti-electric track
small drying zone to block the current. The dry belt withstands the
sheath should be adopted. The hanging point is high and the
induced voltage from the surface of the optical cable to the ground.
selection of crossing obstacle sag is relatively loose.
When the induced voltage is large enough, the discharge will
occur, which will cause arc burning and coking sheath of the dry
belt, resulting in electric corrosion of the sheath [5].
Usually, the quality and surface finish of ADSS cable sheath
materials are required to be high.At the same time, it is stipulated
that in the case of space potential above 12 KV and grounding
leakage current above 0.3 mA for ADSS cable, the anti-tracking
sheath should be used in cable design.
4.2. Space Potential and Hanging Points Selection of
ADSS Cable
In the application, the lower space potential is chosen as the
hanging point of ADSS cable. When the space potential is less Figure 6. SJ1-21Potential Distribution and Cable
than 12 kV, there is no need to use the anti-tracking sheath Hanging Point of Tower and Space

material. The hanging point is determined according to the given

conditions of tower, conductor, ground wire and high-pressure
4.3 Impact of the ADSS hanging Point on Safe
Operation
The hanging point selection of ADSS cable: besides
choosing the location with space potential as low as possible, it
ensures the safe operation of transmission line; it is convenient to
erect and maintain; and it has enough spanning distance with
ground obstacles, as shown in Table 4.
Table 4. The minimum height difference of ADSS cable
[7]
to ground and crossover
No. Content Unit Value
1 Residential areas(villages) m 6
2 Railways m 7.5
3 Road m 6
Figure 7 Diagram of ADSS and conductor deflection
4 Vertical Distance to the House m 2.5 under wind force
5 Cross Distance of Communication Lines m 1
5. Stress definition and Standard
requirements for ADSS cable
4.4 Impact of Environmental Climate Change on
Hanging Points (1) UTS(Ultimate Tensile Strength)

Because the structure of ADSS cable is different from the Tensile strength calculation of fiber cable (tensile element

aerial conductor, and the tensile element is aramid fiber, its such as aramid yarn),meaning breaking strength, the value is

modulus of elasticity is more than half smaller than steel, which breaking strength of aramid yarn multiply by its sectional area.

determines that the sag of ADSS cable is more sensitive to the (2) RTS(Rated Tensile Strength)

change of external load. Under the condition of icing and strong As for ADSS cable, considering discreteness of breaking

wind, the elongation of ADSS cable can reach 0.6%, while the strength of aramid yarn, and tensile inconformity of each yarn

conductor is only 0.1%.. And the coefficient of thermal expansion strength during stranding, which will cause decreasing of cable

is a fraction of steel,The expansion of temperature is much smaller tensile strength, in project, people use RTS (90%UTS) to replace

than that of conductor, and the sag change affected by temperature UTS as design tensile value of fiber cable.

is much smaller. These differences should be noticed in the design （3）MAT(Maximum Allowable tensile Working Stress)
and application of ADSS optical cable. MAT, also called MOTS(Maximum Operating Tensile
It is noteworthy that ADSS not only increases strain under Strength), MAS（Maximum Working Stress）, is the operation
strong wind, but also has light weight, large wind yaw angle, up to tensile stress of fiber cable in extreme environmental
80 degrees, while the conductor is only about half of it[8], as condition( √( ) ). Normally MAT should be
shown in Figure 7.The position of wire and ADSS cable is not more than （35～40）% of RTS. When cable is working in
relatively stable on the cross section of tower pole. In the middle
MAT, cable stress strain value approach the maximum value.
of the bar spacing, the relative position on the cross section varies
(4) EDS(Everyday Stress)
greatly under the influence of wind force. If the span is large, this
EDS refers to fiber cable stress under non-climatic external
phenomenon is more obvious. In the figure,we use 50 meters as a
load (no wind, no ice) and annual average temperature.
ladder, indicating that the span is from 50 meters to 300 meters.
Corresponding to the installation stress under the tension section
The span is 250m, the wind speed is 20m/s, and the ADSS cable
representative span and sag, EDS is generally less than（20～
and the wire have the possibility of crossing. Therefore, even if
25）% of RTS.
the tower is high and the sag is not limited, the distance between
(5) UES(Ultimate Exception Stress)
the hanging point and the space potential should be considered
UES, also called UOS(Ultimate Operation Strength) is that
comprehensively to avoid whipping with the wire.
when the cable meets the meteorological load exceeding the
designed perennial extreme weather conditions, the cable is established an ideal stress-strain curve of ADSS cable, as shown
subjected to tensile stress over MAT, and the fiber in the cable is in Figure 8.
subjected to tensile strain. However, it must be guaranteed that the
cable can still work normally without affecting its service life
after the UES is removed.
(6) Requirements for strain-related performance of ADSS
cable in safe operation
The tensile strength of ADSS cable is very important. The
tensile design of the cable is mainly carried by aramid fiber. The
performance and area of aramid fiber in the cable determine the
rated tensile strength (RTS) of the cable, unit of which is kN. The
maximum allowable tension MAT, every day strength EDS and
ultimate operating strength UOS of ADSS cable are all
determined by RTS in units of kN or N/mm^2. In fiber cable
Figure 8 Ideal stress and strain curve of ADSS cable
Standard, the stress and strain of the optical fibers are clearly
6.2 Excess length design of ADSS cable
specified, as shown in Table 5.
6.2.1 The initial excess length of fiber tubes
Table 5 ADSS Optical Cable performance under various The secondary coating process of fiber shall ensure the fibers
stresses
which located in tubes can obtain a certain initial excess length,
Additional attenuation of
Fiber strain%
Test fiber （dB） usually not less than 1‰.
Tensile
item Central Central
Stranded Stranded 6.2.2 To obtain the structured excess length for finished
tubes tubes
RTS ≥95%RTS — — — — cable
No No The tubes shall be placed around the central strength
MAT 40%RTS ≤0.1 ≤0.05 additional additional
attenuation attenuation members in stranded ways in stranded fiber cable. The degree of
No No
EDS 25%RTS
No
No strain additional additional
freedom of the fiber bundles and stranded pitch provide the
strain
attenuation attenuation structure excess length for the fibers. The fiber bundles will be
After the tension is
removed, there is no located in the central of the tubes when the initial excess length of
UES 60%RTS 0.5 0.35%
obvious residual
additional attenuation
the tube is zero. In figure(a), the central of fiber bundles is shifted
because of the fiber’s initial excess length. In figure(b), no any
strain may occur when the central of fiber bundles shifts close to
6. Design of ADSS cable
the inner jacket wall of the tube, that’s the strain-free window of
6.1 Ideal stress - strain curve of ADSS cable
After the installation of ADSS cable, it mainly works under fibers which caused by stranding.

the daily average tension and must meet the EDS tension Assume the outer diameter of the fiber bundles is dr, the

requirement. The standard stipulates that EDS is not more than 25% outer diameter of the tube is dt, the inner diameter of the tube is 2r,

of the nominal tension (i.e. EDS < 25% RTS); the maximum the stranded pitch is h, the structure excess lengths can be

allowable tension is related to its operating environment, such as calculated based on the above data.

gale, icing, etc. There is no obvious strain in the optical fiber cable;
under the ultimate operating tension (UES = 60% RTS), the strain
of the optical fiber does not exceed 0.35%, when the ultimate
tension disappears, the cable resumes its normal working state.
The above three conditions must be satisfied, and high cost
performance should be pursued in the design. Therefore, we have

(a)when cable without force
(b) cable with force when start strain
Figure 9: the location changes of the fiber bundle in the
tube.
As shows in Figure 9, assume the tube diameter is 1.9/1.3mm,
6 fibers/tube, the fiber diameter is 0.253mm, then:
√ of the daily load and initial installation sag. When the climate
So the equivalent diameter of the 6 fibers is 0.71mm.
Considering there is no wrapped yarn in k, and fiber bundle is
non-circular, multiply by the coefficient of 0.85, the equivalent
diameter shall amend as df=0.85×0.71=0.611. The degree of
freedom of the fibers which located in the tubes is: r=（1.3-0.611）
÷2=0.345mm. And the stranded pitch is 58mm.
Assume the initial excess length of fiber is zero, after the
stranding, the fibers are located in the central of the tube, then the
tensile window of the fiber cable(there is no fiber strain tensile
range)is about:
√ ( ) √ ( )
√ ( ) Before the change:
From the above analysis we can see that the tensile window
design is crucial in the structure design of ADSS cable, which
mainly depended on the adjustment of the fiber’s degree of
freedom. The location of the fiber in the tube shall be determined
by the initial excess length when there is no stress.
6.2.3 S-Z stranded reversal points effect
There are many reversing points in loose tubes during the S-
Z stranded process, when the cable is subjected to the tensile
strain, the reversing points tend to be straight, which makes it
possible for the fiber cable to approach the shortest path, and this
effect also plays a role in excess length. The principle shows in
Figure10.
Figure 10: Effect of SZ stranded reversal points
relieving fiber strain
Therefore, strain windows of fiber cable can be improved by
moderately increasing the reversal points, which can obtain the
larger straight excess lengths.
The above three factors can make the cable excess length
more than 9‰, generally within the range of 8.5‰～10‰.
6.3 The tension component design of ADSS cable
The tension component design is one of the most important
parts during the ADSS cable design. Not only take the daily
average stress under the installation condition into consideration,
but also consider the fiber cable’s stress and sag change when the
load changes under the climatic conditions, which is a process of
repeated verification.
ADSS cable shall be installed according to the requirement
changes, the load changes from W1 to W, the sag changes from f1
to f, then how to accurately calculate the operating state
parameters of the fiber cable after the load changed based on the
fiber cable initial erection parameter and environmental change
condition? It is calculated according to the relationship between
them which is established based on the fiber cable’s initial length.
Due to the change of the temperature and additional
load(such as ice, wind action), the tension of the cable erection
changes from H1 to H, the sag changes from f1 to f, and the cable
suspension length changes from L1 to L, the basic formula of the
cable arc length is:
after the change:
Increased length based on the temperature change:
α( )
Increased length based on the load change:
( )
( )
(In ΔLt andΔL(H-H1), we use l to replace l0) , then the equation is
as below:
 ( ) W1=9.8×0.165N/m=1.617N/m
α( ) (13)
( )
From (5) static mechanical relations:
( )
( )
( )
( )
Put this formula into (13), √( )

( ) √( )

Multiply both sides with ● Known: W1 =1.617 W=8.6702 feds=1.5, to calculate the
fmat=? According to following formula:
( ( ) ) (14)
( )
if ignore the temperature effect:
the sag after the load changed:
( ) (15)

The formula of fiber cable’s stress, load, span and sag is as Solution: fmat=6.4566m
follows: ● To calculate the fiber cable stress based on the sag:
( )

The fiber cable required tension and tension components area

can be calculated by controlling the fiber cable strain under the
condition of EDS or MAT. Then according to the relationship
between cable load changes before and after the load based on the
original length and the sag,to calculate the fiber cable’s stress and
strain under the condition of EDS, MAT, even UES to ensure it to
meet the fiber cable’s standard requirement.
6.4 Design Examples
Cable design: span: 300m, weather conditions icing: 10mm,
wind velocity: 10m/s, installation sag: 0.5%, designed outer
diameter of optical fiber cable: 14.3mm, and the cable weight:
165kg/km.
Answer:
● the own load of optical fiber cable: W1=9.8×0.165N/m;
● Installation sag 0.5%, the span of 300m cables can reach 1.5m,
the daily average stress shall be:
● The modulus of aramid fiber shall be 115 ,
●Assumed Heds, optical fiber cable strain is 4.7‰, according to
the static relationship to calculate the area of aramid:
static relationship ,then the area of aramid in cable:
● To calculate the maximum permissible load
The own load of optical fiber cable:
● The arc length based on the maximum allowable tension:
̂
● The original fiber cable length:
● The fiber cable strain:
̂
Both the sag and strain of the fiber cable meet the design
requirement after the calculation.
The strength member shall be adjusted and recalculated to
meet the requirement when he fiber cable strain exceeds the
maximum allowable strain or the sag requirement is limited.
7. Conclusions
(1) In the application of ADSS cable, the stress and strain of
fiber optic cable are very sensitive to the change of climatic
conditions, and should be fully considered in the design.
(2) The safety operation of ADSS cable should ensure that
both the daily running tension and maximum tension meet the
standard requirements, the maximum running tension is to solve
the cable to adapt to the maximum running capacity, the daily
running tension is to solve the life of the cable.
(3)In the design, the excess length of fiber in the cable
should be well designed, and the tensile element design should be
carried out by the repeated calculation in accordance with the
theory, and ensure that EDS, MAT and UOS are all satisfied.
(4) When span is constant, ADSS cable stress and strain is
inversely proportional to sag, but should pay special attention to,
sag is very small, stress and strain is very sensitive, slight sag will
lead to a sharp increase in cable costs, design and application
should be balanced.
(5) High voltage cable density, tension are much larger than
that of ADSS cable, usually consists of 4 lines to prevent corona,
under wind load deflection angle is much smaller than that of
Mingdang Ren, professor-level
ADSS cable. Wire coefficient of expansion is much larger than senior engineer, is now working in Jiangsu Trigiant Optic-Electric
ADSS cable. These differences may affect the relative position Communication Co., Ltd. as deputy general manager and chief
engineer.
and space potential of the middle part of the rod spacing, or lead
to wind shock whipping. In application, attention should be paid
to the balance of hanging point and sag.
(6)According to the variable relationship between stress - sag
- span, reasonable selection of hanging point, sag and span is the
basis for selecting and designing the best cost performance.
As I am limited by the knowledge structure and shallow
knowledge, if there are any unavoidable problems in the paper
please correct, thank you!
Minhui Mo(1991-), is now working
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