A. C. S. R.

GRAPHIC METHOD OF CALCULATING SAGS AND TENSIONS

IN

TRANSMISSION LINE CONDUCTORS

has been written regarding the behavior of "yield point" is also the "ultimate strength" and such
MUCH
overhead metallic conductors exposed to varying would actually be the case if the load were allowed to
weather conditions. A number of methods for calculating remain for a long enough period of time. This time might
sags and corresponding tensions are in practical use and extend into weeks or months. The practical value for the
while the results obtained thereby are in general satis ultimate strength is obtained by a gradual increase of
factory, there are found in all previously published load over a short period of time.
methods of which the writer has knowledge certain All metals have lower ultimate strength values when
assumptions which are not necessarily correct or easy of subjected to a fluctuating stress. If the stress alternates
comprehension. from a certain maximum value in tension to the same
A metallic wire of any commercial material as it comes maximum value in compression the value of this stress
from the mill, possesses the characteristic of elongating necessary to produce fracture in the course of time is on
under stress in such a manner that if plotted with simple the order of 40 % to 50% of the practical ultimate
Generated for michelerouge@libero.it on 2015-07-17 08:00 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/wu.89078550092

rectangular co-ordinates the curve will be concave down strength value referred to above. This proportion is
ward and not a straight line; as would be the case if the dependent upon the material in question and also the
material were perfectly elastic. number of cycles of stress. For non-ferrous metals the
For all metals the curve is a straight line for a short proportion is approximately 40 % and the cycles of stress
distance from the origin.The tangent of the angle which necessary to produce fracture approximately 60,000,000.
this straight part of the curve makes with the axis of For ferrous materials these quantities are respectively
elongation is the modulus of elasticity for that particular about 50% and 30,000,000.
metal. The theoretical value of this quantity for steel is If the limits of the fluctuating stress are a certain
about 30,000,000 pounds per square inch; for copper it maximum in tension and zero, the ratio of the breaking
is about 16.000,000, and for aluminum 9,000,000. stress to the practical ultimate strength will be increased.
Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#pd-google

As the stress increases the elongation becomes greater This ratio will continue to increase as the limits of
in proportion so that the curve departs more and more fluctuation are narrowed.
from the tangent produced by prolonging the straight Research on this subject is not yet complete but there
part of the curve. are data available to support the conclusion that if the
If at the exact point where the curve begins to leave limits of variation in tensile stress are approximately
the tangent, the stress be reduced the wire will contract 10%, the maximum value of the fluctuating stress
to its original length. If the stress is increased beyond necessary to produce fracture will be upwards of 70%
this point and then released the wire will not return to of the practical ultimate strength.
its original length but will have received a permanent The stress last described above will be referred to in
stretch or set. the present discussion as the "working limit."
The expression "elastic limit," correctly speaking, If a wire as it comes from the mill be subjected to any
should describe the stress at the point where the curve tension up to the "working limit" and then the load
departs from the tangent. This value, therefore, is very reduced, the elongation curve upon the reduction of
low even for the most elastic materials such as steel. stress will be a straight line practically parallel to the
If the stress is increased, a point will be reached where tangent to the original Stress Strain Curve at the origin.
the wire will continue to elongate with increase of time If the load be again applied the elongation curve will lie
without increase of stress, and will eventually break. exactly upon the previous curve obtained by decreasing
This stress is correctly described as the "yield point," the stress. If the application of load be carried beyond
although the "yield point" is frequently located by a the maximum stress previously reached and then re
certain percentage departure from the tangent. duced, a new straight line will result parallel with the
From the above statement it may be inferred that the first but displaced along the axis of elongation. This
 for Sag-Tension Calculations 5

mediately after the application of load. Curve 2 is the to any definite span and sag. For this purpose the
result after stretching has practically ceased (i.e., after catenary equation is used.
holding the final load for approximately one hour). Referring to Figure 1, the symbols have the following
It will be noted that upon the release of load a point meanings:
is reached when the stress is entirely removed from the
5 = Span length.
aluminum portion of the cable and is carried on the
В = Half span length (assuming level supports)
steel portion alone.
D=Sag.
The next step is to consider the effect of a change in H = Tension in cable at center of span.
temperature. The coefficient of expansion of aluminum T= Tension in cable at support.
is 0.0000128 per degree Fahrenheit; for steel it is P = Average tension in cable.
0.0000064, and for copper 0.0000093. Expressed in per
cent, these become respectively ,00128'..c. .00064%, and
— - =Arc length of half span.
.00093' <■ For a drop in temperature the percentage
/ = Arc length from origin to point whose co
decrease in length of each component part of the cable
ordinates are x, y.
will correspond to its coefficient multiplied by the num
a = Distance of origin from Directrix of Catenary.
ber of degrees of temperature change. The effect of tem
С = Distance of support from Directrix of
perature change on Steel and Aluminum is graphically
Catenary.
shown in the figure at the conclusion of the text.
7" = Angle of tangent at support with Directrix.
Chart No. 2 gives the performance of the cable shown K = Angle of tangent at point xy.
in Chart No. 1 for a drop of 60° (i.e., at 0° Fahr.). The
Generated for michelerouge@libero.it on 2015-07-17 08:03 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/wu.89078550092

W = Resultant weight per foot of cable.

TaHa and TsHs curves in this case are each moved to
the left a distance corresponding to their respective From the properties of the Catenary:
reductions in length due to temperature change. After
the new location for TaHa and TsHs are found they are
added together to form the new Tas Curve. In making
the new curve the origin must not be moved from its
y= —
у
position on Chart No. 1. Any number of curves desired (2) + =a cosh
e"a^
can be made. For practical sag calculations curves Or at the limit:
В
corresponding to the minimum, maximum and about С = a cosh
(3)
Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#pd-google

three intermediate temperatures are sufficient.

Having determined by the means described above, the
(4) D = C-a
exact behavior of the cable, when subjected to changes
of stress and temperature, it becomes necessary to deter
(5) l =a sinh
mine the actual arc lengths and tensions corresponding
Or at the limit
L В
(6) a = sinh
2 a

(7) T=WC

(8) Р = "±Т
2

First W is given a constant value of 1 and some

definite value for S is taken, also a value for H is assumed.
From equation (1) the value of a is determined. The

value of may be determined,

a
From equations (3) and (4) the value of D may be
Fig. 1. calculated.
 i
•)£ /
y // \

/ /
s
it /
/ fA
A\
— —* y A

J A
\ &
if
D
/ /
>/ <:
/
s
f
/ /
—r
/ /
/
/
J 1

/
? Ok //
/
—
Generated for michelerouge@libero.it on 2015-07-17 08:05 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/wu.89078550092

r
/
f / 1

// /
f
1 A
->< A/ _> /_ V) A/ V7 / f 'J >AJ— H
A
to
Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#pd-google

;)Dn..ii[)U| sq-] ad -bs •tj peatcipuj -tq-] jsd bs •tj

pUlA <Jlco[SA PUIA Xtlco|3A jacijpuij/C^ puiA *tpopV
.W P "H -W P H W P H .Vi P H

'A A A) i * ((ZOO. 'a A iA) * (StOO-

T

10 69 3Z0 73 9% 008
OZ 817 87.0 80 119 679
03 75Z 651 Z9 Z£9 10 00
0* 333 872. 58 ¥99 0011
05 80* 7l> 09 £69 002.1
06 0.8fr 765 010 V9L 00M
16 09* 006 310 577 00*51
O7 255 16.7 311 058 0081
 10 CATENARY CONSTANTS
Percent
Sag in
Increasein 100 Foot Span 200 Foot Span 300 Foot Span
Percent
Arc Length
of Span
Over Span
Length
Length T H P T H P T H P
(§)'M W W W W W W W W W

.0025 .3063 4082. 4081. 4082. 8163. 8162. 8163. 12245. 12244. 12245.
.005 .4330 2887. 2886. 2887. 5773. 5773. 5774. 8660. 8659. 8660.
.010 .6127 2042. 2041. 2042. 4083. 4082. 4083. 6125. 6123. 6124.
.015 .7504 1667. 1666. 1667. 3334. 3332. 3333. 5002. 5000. 5001.

.020 .8661 1444. 1443. 1444. 2888. 2886. 2887. 4333. 4330. 4332.
.025 .9686 1292. 1291. 1292. 2584. 2582. 2583. 3876. 3873. 3875.
.030 1.0608 1180. 1179. 1180. 2360. 2358. 2359. 3540. 3637. 3639.
.040 1.2249 1022. 1021. 1022. 2044. 2042. 2043. 3066. 3062. 3064.

.050 1.3695 914. 913. 914. 1829. 1826. 1828. 2743. 2739. 2741.
.075 1.6775 747. 745. 746. 1494. 1491. 1493. 2241. 2236. 2239.
.100 1.9372 648. 646. 647. 1295. 1291. 1293. 1943. 1937. 1940.
.150 2.3729 530. 527. 529. 1059. 1054. 1057. 1588. 1581. 1584.

.200 2.7401 459. 456. 458. 919. 914. 917. 1378. 1370. 1374.
.250 3.0642 412. 409. 411. 823. 817. 820. 1234. 1223. 1228.
.300 3.3576 376. 373. 375. 752. 745. 749. 1129. 1119. 1124.
Generated for michelerouge@libero.it on 2015-07-17 08:05 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/wu.89078550092

.350 3.6273 349. 345. 347. 698. 691. 695. 1046. 1035. 1041.

.400 3.8788 327. 323. 325. 654. 646. 650. 980. 968. 974.
.450 4.1144 309. 305. 307. 617. 609. 613. 926. 914. 920.
.500 4.3377 293. 289. 291. 587. 578. 583. 880. 867. 874.
.550 4.5502 280. 275. 278. 560. 551. 556. 840. 826. 833.

.600 4.7533 269. 264. 267. 537. 527. 532. 805. 791. 798.
.650 4.9483 258. 253. 256. 517. 507. 512. 775. 760. 768.
.700 5.1360 249. 244. 247. 499. 489. 494. 748. 733. 741.
.750 5.3172 241. 236. 239. 483. 472. 478. 724. 708. 716.
Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#pd-google

.800 5.4925 234. 229. 232. 468. 457. 463. 702. 686. 695.
.900 5.8278 221. 216. 219. 443. 431. 437. 664. 647. 656.
1.000 6.1451 211. 205. 208. 421. 409. 415. 632. 614. 623.
1.100 6.4473

1.200 6.7363
1.300 7.0138 *
1.400 7.2810
1.500 7.5392

1.600 7.7890
1.700 8.0315
1.800 8.2674
1.900 8.4968

2.000 8.7205
2.100 8.9390
2.200 9.1527
2.300 9.3615

2.400 9.5661
2.500 9.7667
2.600 9.9636
2.700 10.1569
2.800 10.3468
 CATENARY CONSTANTS— Continued 11

Percent
Sag in
Increasein 400 Foot Span 500 Foot Span 600 Foot Span
Percent
Arc Length
of Span
Over Span
Length
Length T H P T H P T H P
(?)'« W W W W W W W W W

.0025 .3063 16326. 16325. 16326. 20408. 20406. 20407. 24490. 24518. 24519.
.005 .4330 11546. 11544. 11545. 14433. 14431. 14433. 17319. 17316. 17318.
.010 .6127 8166. 8164. 8165. 10208. 10205. 10207. 12250. 12246. 12248.
.015 .7504 6669. 6666. 6668. 8336. 8332. 8334. 10003. 19998. 10001.

.020 .8661 5777. 5774. 5776. 7221. 7217. 7219. 8665. 8660. 8663.
.025 .9686 5168. 5164. 5166. 6460. 6455. 6458. 7752. 7746. 7749.
.030 1.0608 4720. 4716. 4718. 5900. 5895. 5898. 7080. 7074. 7077.
.040 1.2249 4088. 4083. 4086. 5110. 5104. 5107. 6132. 6125. 6129.

.050 1.3695 3657. 3652. 3655. 4571. 4564. 4568. 5486. 5478. 5482.
.075 1.6775 2988. 2781. 2984. 3736. 3728. 3734. 4483. 4473. 4478.
.100 1.9372 2590. 2582. 2586. 3237. 3227. 3232. 3885. 3873. 3879.
.150 2.3729 2118. 2109. 2114. 2647. 2635. 2641. 3177. 3163. 3170.

.200 2.7401 1837. 1826. 1832. 2296. 2282. 2289. 2756. 2740. 2748.
.250 3.0642 1646. 1634. 1640. 2057. 2042. 2050. 2469. 2451. 2460.
.300 3.3576 1505. 1492. 1499. 1881. 1864. 1873. 2257. 2237. 2247.
Generated for michelerouge@libero.it on 2015-07-17 08:06 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/wu.89078550092

.350 3.6273 1395. 1380. 1388. 1744. 1726. 1735. 2093. 2071. 2082.

.400 3.8788 1307. 1291. 1299. 1634. 1615. 1625. 1961. 1938. 1950.
.450 4.1144 1234. 1218. 1226. 1543. 1522. 1533. 1852. 1827. 1840.
.500 4.3377 1173. 1156. 1165. 1466. 1444. 1455. 1760. 1734. 1747.
.550 4.5502 1120. 1102. 1111. 1400. 1377. 1389. 1680. 1653. 1667.

.600 4.7533 1074. 1055. 1065. 1342. 1318. 1330. 1611. 1583. 1597.
.650 4.9483 1034. 1014: 1024. 1292. 1267. 1280. 1550. 1520. 1535.
.700 5.1360 998. 977. 988. 1247. 1221. 1234. 1496. . 1465. 1481.
.750 5.3172 965. 944. 955. 1206. 1179. 1193. 1448. 1416. 1432.
Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#pd-google

.800 5.4925 936. 914. 925. 1170. 1143. 1157. 1404. 1371. 1388.
.900 5.8278 885. 862. 874. 1106. 1077. 1092. 1328. 1293. 1311.
1.000 6.1451 842. 817. 829. 1053. 1022. 1038. 1264. 1227. 1245.
1.100 6.4473 1208. 1170. 1189.

1.200 6.7363
1.300 7.0138
1.400 7.2810
1.500 7.5392

1.600 7.7890
1.700 8.0315
1.800 8.2674
1.900 8.4968

2.000 8.7205
2.100 8.9390
2.200 9.1527
2.300 9.3615

2.400 9.5661
2.500 9.7667
2.600 9.9636
2.700 10.1569
2.800 10.3468
 14 CATENARY CONSTANTS— Continued
Percent
Sagin
Increasein 1300 Foot Span 1400 Foot Span 1500 Foot Span
Percent
Arc Length
of Span
Over Span
Length
Length T H P T H P T H P
(§)'» W W W W W W W W W

.0025 .3063
.005 .4330
.010 .6127
.015 .7504

.020 .8661 18775. 18764. 18770.

.025 .9686 16796. 16783. 16790. 18088. 180874. 18081.
.030 1.0608 15340. 15327. 15333. 16520. 16506. 16513. 17700. 17684. 17692.
.040 1.2249 13286. 13270. 13278. 14308. 14291. 14300. 15330. 15312. 15321.

.050 1.3695 11886. 11868. 11877. 12800. 12781. 12791. 13715. 13693. 13704.
.075 1.6775 9712. 9690. 9701. 10459. 10436. 10448. 11206. 11181. 11194.
.100 1.9372 8417. 8392. 8405. 9065. 9038. 9052. 9712. 9683. 9695.
.150 2.3729 6884. 6852. 6868. 7413. 7380. 7397. 7943. 7906. 7924.

.200 2.7401 5971. 5936. 5954. 6430. 6392. 6412. 6890. 6849. 6870.
.250 3.0642 5350. 5310. 5330. 5761. 5718. 5740. 6173. 6126. 6150.
.300 3.3576 4891. 4847. 4869. 5267. 5219. 5243. 5643. 5592. 5618.
Generated for michelerouge@libero.it on 2015-07-17 08:08 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/wu.89078550092

.350 3.6273 4534. 4487. 4511. 4883. 4833. 4858. 5232. 517». 5205.

.400 3.8788 4248. 4198. 4224. 4575. 4521. 4548. 4902. 4843. 4873.
.450 4.1144 4012. 3959. 3986. 4320. 4263. 4292. 4629. 4567. 4598.
.500 4.3377 3812. 3756. 3784. 4105. 4045. 4075. 4398. 4334. 4366.
.550 4.5502 3640. 3580. 3610. 3920. 3856. 3888. 4200. 4131. 4166.

.600 4.7533 3491. 3429. 3460. 3759. 3692. 3725. 4028. 3957. 3993.
.650 4.9483 3359. 3295. 3327. 3618. 3549. 3584. 3876. 3803. 3840.
.700 5.1360 3242. 3176. 3209. 3492. 3420. 3456. 3741. 3664. 3703.
.750 5.3172 3137. 3068. 3103. 3378. 3304. 3341. 3620. 3540. 3580.
Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#pd-google

.800 5.4925 3042. 2970. 3006. 3276. 3199. 3238. 3510. 3428. 3469.
.900 5.8278 2877. 2801. 2839. 3098. 3017. 3058. 3320. 3232. 3276.
1.000 6.1451 2738. 2658. 2698. 2948. 2862. 2905. 3159. 3067. 3113.
1.100 6.4473 2618. 2534. 2576. 2820. 2730. 2775. 3021. 2925. 2973.

1.200 6.7363 2514. 2427. 2471. 2708. 2614. 2661. 2901. 2800. 2851.
1.300 7.0138 2423. 2335. 2379. 2610. 2512. 2561. 2796. 2691. 2743.
1.400 7.2810 2341. 2246. 2294. 2521. 2419. 2470. 2702. 2592. 2647.
1.500 7.5392 2270. 2172. 2221. 2444. 2339. 2392. 2619. 2506. 2563.

1.600 7.7890 2204. 2103. 2153. 2373. 2264. 2318. 2543. 2426. 2484.
1.700 8.0315 2145. 2041. 2093. 2310. 2198. 2254. 2475. 2355. 2415.
1.800 8.2674 2090. 1983. 2037. 2251. 2135. 2193. 2412. 2287. 2350.
1.900 8.4968 2041. 1930. 1986. 2198. 2079. 2139. 2355. 2227. 2292.

2.000 8.7205 1996. 1882. 1939. 2149. 2027. 2088. 2303. 2172. 2238.
2.100 8.9390 1953. 1837. 1895. 2103. 1978. 2041. 2254. 2120. 2187.
2.200 9.1527 1914. 1795. 1855. 2061. 1933. 1997. 2208. 2071. 2140.
2.300 9.3615 1877. 1755. 1816. 2022. 1890. 1956. 2166. 2025. 2095.

2.400 9.5661 1985. 1851. 1918. 2127. 1983. 2055.

2.500 9.7667 1951. 1814. 1883. 2090. 1944. 2017.
2.600 9.9636 2055. 1906. 1981.
2.700 10.1569 2023. 1870. 1947.
2.800 10.3468 1993. 1837. 1915.
Generated for michelerouge@libero.it on 2015-07-17 08:11 GMT / http://hdl.handle.net/2027/wu.89078550092
Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#pd-google