Question 48

Write equation for sag when two supports are equal.

Or
Obtain an expression for the sag supported by towers of same heights at the ends.
[CSVTU Dec 2014(EEE)]
Ans. Supports at equal level : Consider a conductor supported by the supports A and B which are
located at same level. This is shown in the figure.

The point O is the lowest point on the trajectory. Mathematically it can be proved that point O is
at the midspan.
Let, Length of span in metres
Weight per unit length of the conductor in kg/m
Tension in the conductor in kg
Consider a point P on the conductor and let point O is origin. Hence, the co-ordinates of point P

are . The length of span L is large compared to sag S, hence the shape of conductor takes the
form of parabola.

Let Half span length

As the curve is very small due to small sag, it can be assumed that the length OP of the conductor
is same as the co-ordinate of point P.

Now there are two external forces acting on the portion OP of the conductor,
1. The tension T.

2. The weight which acts at a distance of from the point O or P, as .

The tension T acts in horizontal direction at point O. Taking moments of these two forces about
point P and equating them we get,

…(i)
This equation shows that the trajectory is parabolic in nature. At the support A and B, the
vertical distance y form the origin O indicates the sag S.
At A or B
 Substituting in equation (i),

Where, Total span length

Tension in conductor

The sag at any point P of the conductor is

Question 49
Obtain an expression for the sag supported by towers of different heights at the ends.
[CSVTU Dec 2014 (EEE)]
Ans. Supports at unequal levels : The figure shows an overhead line supported at the supports A and
B are at the unequal levels.

Let Total span length

Difference in the levels between two supports
Tension in the conductor
Distance of point O from the support A

Distance of point O from the support B

Weight per unit length of the conductor

Sag at A, …(i)

Sag at B, …(ii)

The sum of and gives the total span length L,

…(iii)

If and are known, then sags and can be obtained using equations (i) and (ii).
Subtract equation (ii) from (i),
 …(iv)
But it can be seen that the distance h which is difference in the levels is also the difference

between the two sags and .

…(v)
Substituting equation (v) in (iv),

And …(vi)
Solving the equation (iii) and (vi), we get

Once the values of and are known, the sags and can be determined.

Effect of ice coating : When the transmission line is coated with ice, the thickness and size of the
conductor increases. This thickness depends on the weather conditions. This causes increase in
weight of the conductor. Increase in weight increases the vertical sag. The weight of ice acts
vertically downward, in the same direction as that of the conductor.
Consider a conductor with diameter d. It is coated with ice of thickness t as shown in the figure.
Hence, the overall diameter of the coated conductor is D.

So, and the area of the coated conductor is

Hence, the area of the ice covering,

If D and d are in meters then this area represents the area in i.e., volume of ice in

per meter length of the conductors, if density of ice is .

The total weight of ice can be obtained as,

= Weight of ice per unit length

This weight acts vertically downwards.
 For a given density of ice ,

Substituting, ,

In general, weight of ice per unit length,

Where, original conductor diameter, Thickness of ice coating

Effect of wind pressure : The wind flows horizontally and hence the wind pressure on the conductor is
considered to be acting perpendicular to the conductor. Thus force due to wind acts at right angle
to the projected surface of the conductor as shown in the figure.

The wind force can be obtained as,

Wind forces per unit length in kg/m

Wind pressure per unit area Projected surface area per unit length

Wind pressure

Where, Wind pressure in , Actual diameter of conductor

Thickness of ice coating if exists

Hence, the conductor gets acted upon by two additional forces, the one vertically downwards
and one in horizontal direction .
Combine effect of ice and wind :
Let, Weight of conductor itself acting vertically down

Weight of ice acting vertically down

Wind force acting horizontally

Hence, the total force acting on the conductor is vector sum of
the horizontal and vertical forces as shown in the figure.

Thus, total weight acting on conductor Fig. Loads acting on line

conductor

1. The sag direction is at an angle measured with respect to vertical. Hence the sag is called
slant sag. This is calculated by the expression derived earlier, considering the total weight .
 2. The conductor adjusts itself in a plane which is at an angle with respect to vertical. The
angle is given by,

3. As slant sag S is the direction at angle with respect to vertical then the vertical sag is cosine
component of the slant sag S.

Factor of safety : While calculating sag and tension in a conductor which is under the effect of ice, wind
etc., a particular factor of safely is always considered.
Every conductor has certain ultimate strength which it can sustain. If tension increases
beyond this value, mechanical failure of conductor occurs. This ultimate strength is called
breaking stress. While the normal tension T is called the working stress.
The ratio of breaking stress to the working stress is defined as the factor of safety. Both
breaking stress and working stress must be expressed in same units. The factor of safety is

denoted as and mathematically expressed as,

The stress is generally expressed in or , hence it must be multiplied by the

conductor area to express it in kg.

Question 55
A 132 kV transmission line has the following data :
Weight of conductor = 680 kg/km, Length of span = 260 m,
Ultimate strength = 3100 kg, Safety factor = 2.
Calculate the height above the ground at which the conductor should be supported. Ground
clearance required is 10 m. [CSVTU Dec 2014 (EE)]
Sol. Given : Weight of conductor = 680 kg/km, Length of span = 260 m,
Ultimate strength = 3100 kg, Safety factor = 2.

Working tension

Sag,
So, height above the ground Ans.

Question 56
 A transmission line conductor having a diameter of 19.53 mm and weight of 0.844 kg/m. The
span is 300 m. The wind pressure is of projected area with ice coating of 1.25 cm. The
ultimate strength of the conductor is 7950 kg. Calculate the maximum sag if the factor of safety is
2 and ice weight .[CSVTU Dec 2010]

Sol. Given : Original conductor diameter

Thickness of ice coating
Wind pressure , Density of ice
Wind force acting horizontally,

Weight of ice acting vertically down,

Weight of conductor itself acting vertically down,

Total weight acting on the conductor,

Ultimate strength of conductor ; Factor of safety

Span,

Maximum sag, Ans.

Question 57
A transmission line has a span of 200 m between level supports. The conductor has a cross
section area of , weight of 1170 kg/km and has a breaking stress of .
Calculate the sag for a safety factor of 5, allowing a wind pressure of of projected area.
[CSVTU Dec 2007]

Sol. Given : Factor of safety,

Breaking stress

Working stress
Allowable working tension T = Working stress Area
 Conductor diameter,
Wind pressure,
Thickness of ice coating,
Wind force acting horizontally,

Weight of conductor itself acting vertically down,

Total weight acting on conductor (with no ice coating effect i.e., )

Span,

Sag, Ans.

Question 58
A transmission line has a span of 150 m between level supports. The conductors has a cross
sectional area of . The tension in the conductor is 2000 kg. If the specific gravity of the
conductor material is and wind pressure is 1.5 kg/m length, calculate the sag. What is
the vertical sag? [CSVTU May 2008]

Sol. Given : Conductor area,

Conductor diameter,
Thickness of ice coating,
Wind force acting horizontal,

Specific gravity of the conductor

Weight of conductor,

Specific gravity Area

Total weight acting on conductor (with no ice coating effect i.e. )

Span,
Tension,

Sag, Ans.

Vertical sag, Ans.

Question 59
 A transmission line conductor having a diameter of 19.5 mm and weight of 0.85 kg/m. The span
is 275 m. the wind pressure is of projected area with ice coating of 13 mm the ultimate
strength of conductor is 8000 kg. Calculate the maximum sag if the factor of safety is 2 and ice
weight . [CSVTU May 2007, Dec 2013]

Sol. Given : Original conductor diameter

Thickness of ice coating

Wind pressure
Wind force acting horizontally,

Density of ice,
Weight of ice acting vertically down,

Weight of conductor itself acting vertically down,

Total weight acting on the conductor,

Factor of safety,

Ultimate strength of conductor

Span ,

Maximum sag,

Ans.
Question 60
The following data refer to a transmission line : span length = 200 m (between level supports)

cross sectional area of conductor , vertical sag = 2.28 m, wind force = 1.4 kg/m, Breaking
stress = 2480 kg and weight of conductor = 1.12 kg/m. Calculate the factor of safety.
[CSVTU May 2013]

Sol. Given : ,
 breaking stress = 2480 kg

Total weight,

and

and

Safety factor
Safety factor Ans.
Question 61
An overhead line is erected across a span of 250 m on level supports. The conductor has a
diameter of 1.42 m and has a dead weight of 1.09 kg/m. the line is subject to a wind pressure of
37.8 kg of the projected area. The radial thickness of ice is 1.25 cm. The line carried by
insulator string 1.43 m long. Calculate :
(i) Sag in lowest an inclined direction
(ii) Sag in vertical direction
(iii) Height of the cross arm to give a minimum ground clearance of 7.62 m under bad weightier
condition.

Assume one cubic meter of ice weight 913.5 kg and a maximum stress of 1050 .
[CSVTU May 2014(EE)]
Sol. Given : Span = 250 m, conductor diameter = 1.42 m, dead weight = 1.09 kg/m,
wind pressure = 37.8 kg , radial thickness of ice = 1.25 cm.
Working tension

Weight of ice coating per meter length

Wind force per meter length of conductor,

 So, total weight,

(i) Sag in an inclined direction,

Ans.
(ii) Sag in vertical direction,

Ans.
Vertical sag
(iii) Height of lowest cross arm
= minimum ground clearance + vertical sag + insulator string length
Ans.
Question 62
An overhead line with standard copper conductor is supported on two poles 200 m apart having
a difference of level of 10 m. The conductor diameter is 2 cm and weight 2.3 kg/m. Calculate the
sag at the lower support under the condition of wind pressure of 57.5 kg/sq.cm of projected area
and factor of safety of 4. Maximum tensile strength of copper is 4220 kg/sq.cm.
[CSVTU May 2010]

Sol. Given : Original conductor diameter,

Thickness of ice coating, (No ice coating effect)

Wind pressure,
Wind force acting horizontally,

Weight of conductor itself acting vertically down,

Total weight acting on conductor (with no ice coating effect i.e., )

Maximum tensile strength

Factor of safety,
 Working stress

Area,
Allowable working tension T = Working stress Area

Total span length,

Difference in the levels,

Distance of sag point from the lower support

Sag at lower support, Ans.

Question 63
An overhead transmission line conductor having a parabolic configuration weighs 1.925 kg per

metre of length. The area of cross-section of the conductor is and the ultimate strength is

. The supports are 600 m apart having 15 m difference of levels. Calculate the sag
from the taller of the two supports which must be allowed so that the factor of safety shall be 5.
Assume that ice load is 1 kg per metre run and there is no wind pressure.

Sol. Given : ,
Figure showns the conductor suspended between two supports at A and B at different level with
O as the lowest point on the conductor.

Total weight of 1 m length of conductor is,

Let the lowest point O of the conductor be at a distance from the support at lower level (i.e.,
A) and at a distance from the support at higher level (i.e., B).
 Clearly, …(i)

Now,

…(ii)

Solving equation (i) and (ii), we have

Sag from the taller of the two towers is,

Ans.

Question 64
Two towers of height 30 m and 90 m respectively support a transmission line conductor at water
crossing. The horizontal distance between the towers is 500 m. If the tension in the conductor is
1600 kg, find the minimum clearance of the conductor. Weight of conductor is 1.5 kg/m. Base of
the towers can be considered to be water level.
[CSVTU Dec 2009]
Sol. Given : Distance between the tower = 500 m, tension in conductor = 1600 kg,
weight of the conductor = 1.5 kg/m
Difference in levels,

Sag at A,

Sag at B,

Weight of the conductor,

Tension in the conductor,
 …(ii)
From equation (i) and (ii),

So, sag at A,
Clearance of the lowest point O from the water level or minimum clearance of the conductor
. Ans.