AS 1746—1991

Australian Standard

Conductors—Bare overhead—
Hard-drawn copper

[Title allocated by Defence Cataloguing Authority:

CONDUCTORS—BARE OVERHEAD—HARD-DRAWN COPPER
(NSC 6145)]
This Australian Standard was prepared by Committee EL/10, Overhead Lines. It was
approved on behalf of the Council of Standards Australia on 16 April 1991 and
published on 10 June 1991.

The following interests are represented on Committee EL/10:

Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufactures Association

Australian Porcelain Insulators Association

Confederation of Australian Industry

Electrical and Radio Federation of Victoria

Electricity Supply Association of Australia

Railways of Australia Committee

Review of Australian Standards. To keep abreast of progress in industry, Australian Standards are subject
to periodic review and are kept up to date by the issue of amendments or new editi ons as necessary. It is
important therefore that Standards users ensure that they are in possession of the latest editi on, and any
amendments thereto.
Full detail s of all Australi an Standards and related publications wil l be found in the Standards Australia
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are welcomed. Noti fi cati on of any inaccuracy or ambiguity found in an Australi an Standard should be made
without delay in order that the matter may be investigated and appropriate action taken.

This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 90062.

 AS 1746—1991

Australian Standard

Conductors—Bare overhead—
Hard-drawn copper

AS 1746 fi rst published in part as AS C41—1927.

Second editi on 1950.
AS C306 fi rst publi shed 1950.
AS C41—1950 and AS C306—1950 revised and
redesignated AS C306—1958.
AS C306—1958 revised and redesignated in part as
AS C41—1968.
AS C306—1958 withdrawn 1972.
AS C41—1968 revised and redesignated
AS 1746—1975.
Second editi on 1991.

PUBLISHED BY STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

(STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA)
1 THE CRESCENT, HOMEBUSH, NSW 2140
ISBN 0 7262 6903 4
AS 1746—1991 2

PREFACE

This Standard was prepared by the Standards Australia Committee on Overhead Lines
and supersedes AS 1746—1975, Hard-drawn copper conductors for overhead power
transmission purposes.
The range of conductor sizes provided is similar to the range specified in
AS 1746—1975, but the Standard also provides the facility for conductors of other
dimensions to be supplied by reference to this Standard.
This Standard differs from the 1975 edition as follows:
(a) Minimum ultimate tensile stress (UTS) of the larger wire sizes has been reduced
slightly to reflect the changed copper purity, and processing methods. Other wire
UTS values have been rationalized.
(b) An additional wire size (3.75 mm diameter), and a new standard conductor
construction (7/3.75) have been introduced.
(c) A new appendix has been provided, which includes the coefficient of linear
expansion, and the theoretical basis for the calculation of modulus of elasticity.
(d) Another new appendix has been included which highlights items which should be
specified by the purchaser or agreed between the purchaser and manufacturer at
the time of order.

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 3 AS 1746—1991

CONTENTS

Page

SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL

1.1 SCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 4
1.2 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 4
1.3 DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 4
1.4 NOMENCLATURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 4

SECTION 2 MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS AND WIRE PROPERTIES

2.1 GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.2 MATERIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.3 WIRE PROPERTIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

SECTION 3 CONDUCTOR REQUIREMENTS

3.1 CONSTRUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.2 JOINTS IN WIRES OF CONDUCTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.3 LAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.4 STANDARD SIZES AND CALCULATED PROPERTIES OF CONDUCTORS . . . 6

SECTION 4 TESTS
4.1 TEST SPECIMENS . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . 7
4.2 MECHANICAL TESTS . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . 7
4.3 RESISTIVITY TEST . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . 7
4.4 LAY RATIO TEST . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . 8
4.5 PLACE OF TESTING . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . 8

SECTION 5 PACKING AND MARKING

5.1 PACKING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
5.2 MARKING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
5.3 CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

APPENDICES
A CALCULATION OF CONDUCTOR PROPERTIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
B COEFFICIENT OF LINEAR EXPANSION AND CALCULATION OF
MODULUS OF ELASTICITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
C PURCHASING GUIDELINES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
AS 1746—1991 4

STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

Australian Standard
Conductors—Bare overhead—Hard-drawn copper

SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL

1.1 SCOPE This Standard specifies requirements and tests for homogeneous bare electrical conductors for
overhead power transmission, and constructed of hard-drawn copper wires.
NOTES:
1 Appendix A gives methods to calculate conductor propert ies.
2 Appendix B gives the coeffi cient of li near expansion and the theoretical basis for the calculati on of modulus of elasti city.
3 Appendix C li sts information which should be supplied with enquir ies and orders for conductors.

1.2 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS The following documents are referred to in this Standard:
AS
1279 Copper refinery shapes
1391 Methods for tensile testing of metals
1574 Copper and copper alloys—Wire for electrical purposes
2505 Methods for bend and related testing of metals
2505.5 Part 5: Torsion and wrapping tests on wires
2857 Timber drums for insulated electric cables and bare conductors
C365 Drums for bare stranded conductors
C365.2 Part 2: Metal drums
IEC
468 Method of measurement of resistivity of metallic materials

1.3 DEFINITIONS For the purpose of this Standard the following definitions apply:

1.3.1 Wire — a filament of drawn metal having a constant circular cross-section.

1.3.2 Conductor — a finished circular stranded assembly consisting of seven or more wires laid up together.

1.3.3 Diameter — the mean of two measurements at right angles taken at any one cross-section.

1.3.4 Direction of lay — the direction of lay is defined as right-hand or left-hand, as follows:
(a) Right-hand lay—when the slope of the wires is in the direction of the central part of the letter Z when the
conductor is held vertically.
(b) Left-hand lay—when the slope of the wires is in the direction of the central part of the letter S when the
conductor is held vertically.

1.3.5 Lay length — the axial length of one complete turn of the helix formed by an individual wire in a stranded
conductor.

1.3.6 Lay ratio — the ratio of the lay length to the nominal external diameter of the corresponding layer of wire
in the stranded conductor.

1.3.7 Breaking load of a wire — the maximum load obtained in a tensile test of that wire.

1.3.8 Ultimate tensile stress — the breaking load divided by the original cross-sectional area of the test wire.

1.3.9 Spool — a container of wire which is to be installed on a stranding machine to manufacture the conductor.

1.3.10 Informative appendix — an appendix giving additional information, recommendations, guidelines or

other non-mandatory statements.

1.4 NOMENCLATURE Hard-drawn copper conductors covered by this Standard shall have the code HDCu.

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 5 AS 1746—1991

SECTION 2 MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS AND WIRE PROPERTIES

2.1 GENERAL The conductor shall be constructed of hard-drawn copper wire having the properties specified
in this Standard.
It is not intended that wires from a finished conductor purporting to comply with this Standard should be
subjected to chemical analysis.
2.2 MATERIAL The copper shall comply with the high conductivity alloy, 110A (or equivalent), as specified
in AS 1279. The wire shall be in hard (H) condition as specified in AS 1574.
2.3 WIRE PROPERTIES
2.3.1 General Before stranding, all wires shall have a round cross-section within the limits specified in
Table 2.1. Standard wire sizes and properties are listed in Table 2.2. For non-standard sizes, the wires shall meet
the dimensional tolerances of Table 2.1 and, for wires up to 4.5 mm diameter, have the minimum ultimate tensile
stress (UTS) determined from the following equation:
Minimum UTS = 480-20d
where
Minimum UTS is in megapascals and
d = nominal diameter of wire, in millimetres
Joints in wires shall comply with Clause 3.2. Joints may be made in the base rod or wire before final drawing.
TABLE 2.1
TOLERANCE ON DIAMETER OF WIRES
Tolerance on measurements, wit h
Norminal reference to nominal diameter
Material diameter
mm Mean Max. ovalit y (diff erence
diameter between max. and min. at
same cross-secti on)

Copper All diameters ± 1% 2%

2.3.2 Copper wires

2.3.2.1 General The required properties of standard sizes of copper wires are given in Table 2.2.
Values adopted for the basic properties of copper wires, for the purpose of this Standard, are set out in
Clauses 2.3.2.2 to 2.3.2.6.
2.3.2.2 Density The density at 20°C of copper wire is taken as 8.89 × 10 3 kg/m 3 .
2.3.2.3 Resistivity The maximum value of resistivity at 20°C of copper wire is 0.01777 µΩ.m (this corresponds
to 97 percent conductivity IACS*).
2.3.2.4 Constant-mass temperature coefficient of resistance (α 20) The constant-mass temperature coefficient of
resistance of copper wire at 20°C, measured between two potential points rigidly fixed to the wire, is taken as
0.00381 per degree Celsius.
2.3.2.5 Modulus of elasticity The modulus of elasticity of copper wire is taken as 124 GPa.
2.3.2.6 Coefficient of linear expansion The coefficient of linear expansion of copper wire is taken as 17 × 10 –6
per °C.
TABLE 2.2
PROPERTIES OF HARD-DRAWN COPPER WIRES
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Cross- Mass per Minimum Minimum Maximum d.c.
Standard diameters sectional km† breaking ulti mate resistance
Nominal Max. Min. area† load† tensil e stress per km at
20°C†
mm mm mm mm 2 kg kN MPa Ω
1.00 1.010 0.990 0.7854 6.98 0.361 460 22.6
1.25 1.263 1.238 1.227 10.9 0.558 455 14.5
1.75 1.768 1.733 2.405 21.4 1.07 445 7.39
2.00 2.020 1.980 3.142 27.9 1.38 440 5.66
2.50 2.525 2.475 4.909 43.6 2.11 430 3.62
2.75 2.778 2.723 5.940 52.8 2.52 425 2.99
3.00 3.030 2.970 7.069 62.8 2.97 420 2.51
3.50 3.535 3.465 9.621 85.5 3.94 410 1.85
3.75 3.788 3.713 11.04 98.1 4.47 405 1.61
† Tabulated values are based on nominal diameters given in Column 1 and are provided for informati on only.

* International Annealed Copper Standard

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 AS 1746—1991 6

SECTION 3 CONDUCTOR REQUIREMENTS

3.1 CONSTRUCTION
3.1.1 General The wire used in the construction of copper conductors shall, before stranding, comply with Section 2
of this Standard.
All wires in a conductor shall lie naturally in their correct positions. They shall remain in position when the conductor
is cut at any point, and shall permit restranding by hand after being forcibly unravelled.
3.2 JOINTS IN WIRES OF CONDUCTORS
3.2.1 General All joints made during the stranding operation shall be in accordance with Clauses 3.2.2 and 3.2.3. They
shall be free from visible defects. Test specimens containing a joint are not required to fulfil the mechanical
requirements of a wire without a joint.
3.2.2 Conductors containing seven wires For conductors containing seven wires, joints in the wires shall be made
only by cold-pressure butt-welding. The minimum distance between any two joints in the conductor shall be 15 m.
3.2.3 Conductors containing more than seven wires For conductors containing more than seven wires joints in the
wires shall be made by cold-pressure butt-welding, resistance butt-welding or resistance brazing. The minimum distance
between two such joints in the conductor shall be 15 m.
3.3 LAY
3.3.1 Lay ratio The lay ratio of the different layers shall be within the limits given in Table 3.1.
3.3.2 Direction of lay In all constructions, the successive layers shall have opposite directions of lay, the outermost
layer being right-handed. The wires in each layer shall be evenly and closely stranded.

TABLE 3.1
LAY RATIOS FOR HARD-DRAWN COPPER CONDUCTORS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Number of Lay rati o
wires in 6-wire layer 12-wire layer 18-wire layer 24-wire layer
conductor
Min. Max. Min. Max. Min. Max. Min. Max.
7* 13 17 — — — — — —
9† 10 13 — — — — — —
19 10 17 10 16 — — — —
37 10 17 10 16 10 16 — —
61 10 17 10 16 10 16 10 16
* Containing wir es up to and including 2.5 mm diameter.
† Containing wir es larger than 2.5 mm diameter.

3.4 STANDARD SIZES AND CALCULATED PROPERTIES OF CONDUCTORS The standard sizes of
hard-drawn copper conductors and their calculated properties are given in Table 3.2.

TABLE 3.2
STANDARD SIZES AND CALCULATED PROPERTIES OF HARD-DRAWN COPPER CONDUCTORS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Stranding and Approx. overall Cross-sectional Mass per Calculated breaking Equivalent D.C. resistance per
wire diameter diameter area km laod (CBL) aluminium area km at 20°C
mm mm mm 2 kg kN mm 2 Ω
7/1.00 3.00 5.498 49.3 2.32 8.68 3.25
7/1.25 3.75 8.589 76.9 3.59 13.6 2.09
7/1.75 5.25 16.84 151 6.89 26.6 1.06
7/2.00 6.00 21.99 197 8.89 34.7 0.815
7/2.75 8.25 41.58 375 16.2 65.3 0.433
19/1.75 8.75 45.70 413 18.3 71.7 0.395
19/2.00 10.0 59.70 538 23.6 93.6 0.303
7/3.50 10.5 67.35 607 25.4 106 0.268
7/3.75 11.3 77.28 696 28.8 121 0.233
37/1.75 12.3 88.99 806 35.6 139 0.203
19/2.75 13.8 112.9 1020 43.1 177 0.160
19/3.00 15.0 134.3 1210 50.8 211 0.134
37/2.50 17.5 181.6 1640 70.3 284 0.099 6
37/2.75 19.3 219.8 1990 83.9 344 0.082 3
37/3.00 21.0 261.6 2370 98.9 409 0.069 1
61/2.75 24.8 362.3 3290 138.0 566 0.050 0
NOTES:
1. The cross-secti onal area is the sum of the cross-secti onal areas of the individual wires.
2. Propert ies shown are calculated in accordance with the methods of Appendix A and are given for informati on purposes only.
3. Tabulated values given are based on standard diameters and the mean lay rati os.

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 7 AS 1746—1991

SECTION 4 TESTS
4.1 TEST SPECIMENS
4.1.1 General This Standard requires testing of individual wires only. The wires shall be tested before stranding
under a routine test procedure (see Clause 4.1.2).
Special tests, where specified, may be performed (see Clause 4.1.3) on specimens of wire taken from a sample
of conductor.
4.1.2 Routine tests Routine tests shall be performed on specimens taken from the first and every tenth spool
prepared for loading on a stranding machine, as specified in Table 4.1.
If a specimen fails a test, that test shall be repeated on two further specimens taken from the same spool. If either
of these fails, the spool shall be rejected and five spools, produced sequentially before and after the rejected
spool, shall be individually tested.
4.1.3 Special tests Special tests shall be performed on wire specimens taken from a sample length of conductor
as specified in Table 4.1.
TABLE 4.1
SCHEDULE OF TESTS
Test Clause reference Routine Special

Dimensions 4.2.1 100 100

Ulti mate tensile str ess 4.2.2 100 100
Wr apping 4.2.3 10 10
Resistivit y 4.3 10 10

LEGEND:
100 = Tests to be performed on 100% of specimens selected
in accordance wit h Clause 4.1.
10 = Tests to be performed on not less than 10% of specimens selected
in accordance wit h Clause 4.1.

4.2 MECHANICAL TESTS

4.2.1 Dimensions The diameter of the wire shall be measured and recorded and shall be within the limits
specified in Table 2.1.
4.2.2 Ultimate tensile stress test The breaking load of each specimen shall be determined in accordance with
the method given in AS 1391. The ultimate tensile stress shall be calculated on the basis of the original
cross-sectional area of the wire before testing.
For routine tests, the ultimate tensile stress of the specimen shall be not less than the appropriate value given in
Table 2.2 or determined in accordance with Clause 2.3.1.
For special tests, the ultimate tensile stress of the specimen shall be not less than 95 percent of the appropriate
value given in Table 2.2 or determined in accordance with Clause 2.3.1.
The test specimen shall be free from bends or kinks other than the curvature resulting from the usual spooling
or stranding operation.
4.2.3 Wrapping test The wrapping test shall be performed in accordance with AS 2505.5, except as modified
herein.
Each test specimen shall be wrapped around a wire of its own diameter to form a close helix of eight turns. Six
turns shall then be unwrapped and again closely rewrapped. The wrapping rate shall not exceed 60 turns per
minute. The wire shall not break.
4.3 RESISTIVITY TEST Each test specimen shall be measured for electrical resistance in accordance with
the method given in IEC 468 to an accuracy of at least one part in a thousand at a temperature of not less than
10°C nor more than 30°C. The length of the specimen shall be sufficient to give the accuracy required and shall
be suitable for the method of testing used.
The value of resistance, measured at a temperature (T) in degrees Celsius, shall be corrected to that at 20°C by
multiplying the measured value by a correction factor (K), given by:

. . .(1)

where α 20 is the constant-mass temperature coefficient of resistance (see Clause 2.3.2.4).

The resistivity shall be calculated from the corrected resistance and its value shall not exceed the value given in
Clause 2.3.2.3.

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AS 1746—1991 8

4.4 LAY RATIO TEST The lay ratios shall be checked and recorded at the beginning and end of each
production run of any one size of conductor, by measuring the lays with the conductor under tension on the
stranding machine.
The lay ratios shall be within the appropriate limits specified in Table 3.1.

4.5 PLACE OF TESTING Tests shall be made at the wire or conductor manufacturer’s works.

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 9 AS 1746—1991

SECTION 5 PACKING AND MARKING

5.1 PACKING The conductor shall be supplied on drums constructed in accordance with AS 2857 or AS C365,
Part 2.

5.2 MARKING The following information shall be legibly and indelibly marked on the flange of the drums
or on a waterproof plate or label securely attached to the drum:
(a) Manufacturer’s name or registered trade mark.
(b) Manufacturer’s drum serial number.
(c) Stranding and type of conductor.
(d) Length of conductor.
(e) Gross mass of drum and conductor.
(f) Handling or lifting instructions where such handling or lifting is by means other than a spindle through the
spindle holes with spreader to prevent damage to flanges.
(g) An arrow with the words ‘ROLL THIS WAY’ to indicate the direction in which the drum should be rolled
to the flange.

5.3 CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE The manufacturer shall supply the purchaser with a written statement
that the conductor complies with this Standard.
NOTE: Manufacturers making a statement of compliance with this Australi an Standard on a product, or on packaging or promoti onal
materi al related to that product, are advised to ensure that such compli ance is capable of being veri fi ed.
Independent cert if ication is available from Standards Australi a under the StandardsMark Product Certi fi cati on Scheme. The
StandardsMark, shown below, is a (registered) certi fi cati on tr ade mark owned by Standards Australi a and granted under li cence to
manufacturers whose products comply with the requir ements of suitable Austr alian Standards and who operate sound qualit y assurance
programs to ensure consistent product qualit y.
Furt her informati on on product certi fi cati on and the suit abil it y of this Standard for certi fi cati on is avail able fr om Standards Australi a’s
Qualit y Assurance Services, 1 The Crescent Homebush NSW 2140.

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AS 1746—1991 10

APPENDIX A

CALCULATION OF CONDUCTOR PROPERTIES

(Informative)

A1 GENERAL The values given in Table 3.2 and this Appendix are based on standard wire diameters
and are given for information only. Tests for these properties do not form part of the requirements of this
Standard.

A2 INCREASE IN LENGTH DUE TO STRANDING When straightened, each wire in any particular
layer of a conductor, except the central wire, is longer than the conductor by an amount depending on the
lay ratio of that layer. For the purpose of the calculation, the mean lay ratios are used, i.e. the mean of the
relevant maximum and minimum values given in Table 3.1.

A3 MASS OF CONDUCTOR The mass of each wire in a length of conductor, except the central wire,
will be greater than that of an equal length of straight wire by an amount depending on the lay ratios. The
conductor mass is obtained by multiplying the mass of an equal length of one straight wire by the
appropriate mass constant set out in Table A1, which is based on mean lay ratios.

A4 CALCULATED BREAKING LOAD (CBL) OF CONDUCTOR The calculated breaking load of

a conductor (in terms of the sum of the strengths of the individual component wires before stranding) is
taken to be as follows:
(a) For a conductor containing not more than seven wires, 92 percent of the sum of the strengths of the
individual wires calculated from the value of the minimum breaking load given in Column 6 of
Table 2.2.
(b) For a conductor containing more than seven wires, 90 percent of the sum of the strengths of the
individual wires calculated from the value of the minimum breaking load given in Column 6 of
Table 2.2.
NOTES: The actual breaking load obtained in a test may exceed the calculated value.

A5 EQUIVALENT ALUMINIUM AREA The term ‘equivalent aluminium area’ denotes the area of a
solid aluminium 1350 rod which would have the same resistance as the conductor. This area takes into
account the assumed increase of resistance of each wire except the central wire (see Paragraph A2 above),
and the difference in resistivity between hard-drawn copper of the conductor and aluminium 1350.
The equivalent aluminium area of the conductor is obtained by multiplying the area of one wire by both—
(a) the appropriate area constant set out in Table A1; and
(b) the ratio of the resistivity of aluminium 1350 to the resistivity of hard-drawn copper (see
Clause 2.3.2.3).
NOTE: The resisti vity of aluminium 1350 at 20°C is taken to be 0.0283 µΩ.m.

A6 DIRECT CURRENT RESISTANCE OF CONDUCTOR The resistance of any length of a conductor

is obtained by multiplying the resistance of an equal length of one straight wire by the appropriate
resistance constant set out in Table A1.

TABLE A1
STRANDING CONSTANTS
AREA, MASS, AND RESISTANCE
Number of Stranding constant
wires in
conductor Area Mass Resistance

7* 6.942 7.058 0.144 0

7† 6.903 7.099 0.144 9
19 18.71 19.29 0.053 45
37 36.34 37.68 0.027 52
61 59.80 62.22 0.016 72
* Containing wir es up to and including 2.5 mm diameter
† Containing wir es larger than 2.5 mm diameter.

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 11 AS 1746—1991

APPENDIX B

COEFFICIENT OF LINEAR EXPANSION AND

CALCULATION OF MODULUS OF ELASTICITY
(Informative)

B1 COEFFICIENT OF LINEAR EXPANSION

B1.1 General The coefficient of linear expansion of a homogeneous conductor is equal to the coefficient
of linear expansion of the material. The value of the coefficient of linear expansion is 17 × 10 –6 per °C.
B2 MODULUS OF ELASTICITY
B2.1 General The final modulus of elasticity of a homogeneous conductor is dependent on a number of
factors including the conductor’s previous thermal and tensile history, the method of stranding and the
actual conductor configuration. Theoretical values of the modulus can however be calculated from a
knowledge of the material properties and assuming a specific conductor construction. The calculation takes
into account the fact that only the centre wire lies parallel to the conductor’s axis.

TABLE B1
MODULUS OF ELASTICITY
Number of wires in Final modulus of elasticit y
conductor GPa
Calculated Practi cal
7 120 112
19 118 110
37 117 108
61 117 106
NOTES:
1 Practi cal values of conductor modulus based on actual conductor test measure-
ments have been provided.
2 The final modulus of elasti city is taken as the modulus obtained aft er the
removal of constr ucti onal str etch.

B2.2 Calculation The calculated values of the final modulus given in Table B1 have been determined
using the method of Nigol and Barrett* and the following assumptions:
(a) The standard diameters and mean lay ratio have been used (see Paragraph A2).
(b) No radial elastic component.
(c) Material modulus in accordance with Clause 2.3.2.5.
The following relationships apply:

tan θi =

Ei = Ew cos 3 θi

Ef =

where
Li = mean lay ratio, layer i
Di = external diameter of layer i
ri = radius of layer i, from centre of conductor to centre of wire in the layer
θi = lay angle of wires in layer i
Ew = material modulus of wires
Ei = wire modulus in layer i
mi = number of wires in layer i (m = 6, 12, 18 .....)
N = total number of wires
n = number of layers
Ef = calculated final homogeneous conductor modulus

* The method used to determine the modulus of elasticit y was derived fr om a report prepared for the Canadian Electri cal Association
under Contract 78-93, March 1982, ti tl ed Development of an Accurate Model of ACSR Conductors for Calculati ng Sags at High
Temperature —Part 3, by D. Nigol and S. Barrett .

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AS 1746—1991 12

APPENDIX C

PURCHASING GUIDELINES
(Informative)

C1 GENERAL Some of the items listed are additional to the purchasing details normally provided by
the purchaser at the time of order and should either be specified by the purchaser or be subject to
agreement between the purchaser and manufacturer.

C2 ITEMS TO BE SPECIFIED BY THE PURCHASER

(a) Whether special tests are required. The specimen sampling rate and any retest criteria are to be
negotiated. Typical tests and retests rates are as follows:
(i) Wire specimens should be taken from the first and every tenth drum produced, or from one drum
from every production run, whichever rate provides the larger number of samples.
(ii) If a specimen fails a test, that test should be repeated on a further sample of conductor taken
from the same drum. If any of the wire specimens fail the retest, the drum should be rejected,
and the drum of conductor produced immediately before and the drum of conductor produced
immediately after the rejected drum should be individually tested.
(iii) Test and retest should be performed on one wire from every six wires in each layer.
(b) Whether a test certificate is required in addition to certificate of compliance.
(c) Requirements for any additional information to be marked on the drum flange or the label, and any
special method of marking, if not in accordance with Clause 5.2.

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