IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, VOL. 15, NO.

2, APRIL 2000 777

Sag and Tension Calculations for Overhead

Transmission Lines at High Temperatures—
Modified Ruling Span Method
Mehran Keshavarzian and Charles H. Priebe

Abstract—The ruling span concept is widely used to calculate 1 = Longitudinal horizontal movement of a suspen-
sags and tensions for new overhead transmission lines and for up- sion clamp with a finite stiffness.
grading existing lines. It provides satisfactory results for a level line (1 0 = Change in the i-th span length.
1 01)
i
with relatively uniform spans at any temperature, or for any span
length of a level line at low temperature. The ruling span concept i

may result in an unacceptable error if it is used to calculate sags Subscripts:

and tensions in a line segment with significantly unequal spans at
high temperature. This paper presents a method to calculate sags
and tensions of multi-span line segments at different temperatures
based on the rotational stiffness of suspension insulator strings. A
simple equation, based on the parabolic approximation, is derived
to calculate changes in the span lengths and conductor sags and
tensions. The method follows the ruling span concept but relaxes
the Fundamental assumption of the ruling span method. The accu-
racy of the method is compared with the more complex, nonlinear,
finite element method.
Index Terms—overhead line, ruling span, high temperature, sag,
tension, insulator swing, conductor.
NOMENCLATURE
D = Sag.
S = Span length.
L = Length of conductor.
L = Length of conductor in a single dead-end span.
i = The i-th span of the line section.
0 = At temperature T0 .
t = At temperature T .
n = Number of spans.
R = Ruling span.
I. INTRODUCTION
T HE ruling span formula is based on the fundamental as-
sumption that the attachments of the conductor to suspen-
sion structures between dead-end structures are flexible enough
to allow for longitudinal movement to equalize the tensions in
adjacent spans to the ruling span tension [1]. In other words, the
conductor at each suspension structure is supported by an ele-
ment which is infinitely flexible in the longitudinal direction.
If the temperature of a line segment with unequal spans is
raised uniformly, conductor in each span elongates in response
 = Slack.
to the temperature change. This elongation increases the sag,
 = Slack of a single dead-end span.
thereby decreasing the tension. If the suspension insulators
T0 = Conductor stringing temperature.
remained stationary (without any rotation), there would be a
H = Horizontal conductor tension.
tension difference in adjacent spans of different lengths. How-
H = Horizontal conductor tension in a single dead-end
ever, the suspension clamps displace longitudinally to provide
span.
force resolution at each suspension clamp. The longitudinal
h = Length of suspension insulator.
horizontal movements of suspension clamps move the insula-
w = Unit weight of conductor.
tors from a vertical position and the horizontal component of
W = Conductor weight plus 1/2 weight of insulator
the tension in the nonvertical insulator string resists the tension
string.
differential in the adjacent spans. This tension differential
A = Cross sectional area of the conductor.
is also called the unbalanced force. The unbalanced force at
K = Span stiffness.
the equilibrium position of the insulator string is a function
k = Suspension insulator stiffness.
of the suspension insulator rotational stiffness as well as the
E = Modulus of Elasticity of the conductor.
stiffnesses of the adjacent spans of conductor.
 = Coefficient of thermal elongation of the conductor.
The main objective of this paper is to present a simple method
 = Longitudinal horizontal movement of an infinitely
to calculate the required suspension clamp longitudinal move-
flexible suspension clamp.
ments and conductor sags and tensions which resolve the un-
balanced force at each conductor support due to a temperature
change. The distinctive feature of this method is the introduction
Manuscript received January 26, 1999; revised September 30, 1999. of the horizontal force balance at each conductor support. The
The authors are with the Commonwealth Edison Company, P.O. Box 767,
Chicago, IL 60690 USA. method, itself, is based on a simple iterative procedure without
Publisher Item Identifier S 0885-8977(00)03506-8. any finite element nonlinear analysis.
0885–8977/00$10.00 © 2000 IEEE
778 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, VOL. 15, NO. 2, APRIL 2000

II. FORMULAS
A. Ruling Span Method = 8 3 (D2 0 D2 )=(3 3 S 2 )
Change [i; t=Si ]T 0!T i; t i i

For level spans, sag and slack in each suspension span at tem- = 8 3 (D2 0 D2 ) 3 S 2 =(3 3 S 4 )
perature T call be calculated from the following parabolic equa-
R; t R i R

tions, [2], [3]:

= Change [ =S ] 0! 3 (S =S )2
R; t R T T i R (9)

Sag = D = (w 3 S 2 )=(8 3 H )
i; t i R; t

= D 3 (S =S )2
R; t i R (1) ( 0  01) = Change [ =S ] 0! 3 S 3
i i ;t R; t R T T i

[1 0 (S =S )2 ]
i R

= 8 3 (D2 0 D2 ) 3 S 3 [1 0 (S =S )2]=(3 3 S 2 )
=  = L 0 S = (8 3 D2 )=(3 3 S )
R; t R i i R R
Slack i; t i; t i; t i; t i (10)
= (S 3 3 w2)=(24 3 H 2 )
i R; t (2)

S = S + ( 0  01 ) (11)
=  =S = (8 3 D2 )=(3 3 S 2 )
i; t i i i ;t
Rate of Slack i; t i i; t i

= (S 2 3 w2 )=(24 3 H 2 )
i R; t
(3)
An equation for the change in the span length can also be
derived from the expressions for the slacks of the two extreme
conductor support conditions – - - infinitely rigid and infinitely

= S = p(S13 + S23 + . . . + S 3 )
flexible. The result is Eq. 12:
Ruling Span
( 0  01 ) = ( 0  ) + (H 0 H ) 3 S =(E 3 A)
R n

=(S1 + S2 + . . . + S ) n (4) i i ;t i; t i; t R; t i; t i

= (S 3 3 w2 )f1=(24 3 H 2) 0 1=(24 3 H 2 )g
i i; t R; t
For most practical situations, the above parabolic equations
are accurate since sags are usually less than 5% of the span
+ (H 0 H ) 3 S (E 3 A):
R; t i; t (12)
i

lengths, [4]. When the conductor temperature increases from T0 to T , sags

The rate of slack at temperature T can be calculated from the and changes in the rates of slack of all spans within the riding
following equations: span can be calculated from 1 and 9, respectively. For the line
segment consisting of “n” spans, the movement of the conductor
(Rate of Slack)i; t =  =S = (L 0 S )=S
i; t i i; t i; t i
attachment at the first and last dead-end structure is equal to
Where zero. In other words, both 0 and n are equal to zero. The move-
ment of the suspension clamps at supports 1 to “n 0 1” (1 to
L = L [1 + (T 0 T0 ) + (H
i; t i R; t 0 H )=E 3 A]R n01 ) can be evaluated from Eq. 10 or Eq. 12.
= L 3 L =Li R; t R (5) It is important to note that the sum of changes in the span
lengths of all spans within the ruling span should be equal to
zero since the total span length (S1 + S2 + . . . : : + Sn ) will not
S = S + ( 0  01)
i; t i i i ;t
change with changes in temperature.

Substituting for Li; t and Si; t in the rate of slack equation:

6( 0  01 ) = Change [ =S ] 0! 3 6
i i ;t R; t R T T

fS [1 0 (S =S )2 ]g
 =Si = (L 0 S )=Si
i i R

i; t i; t i; t = Change [ =S ] 0! 3 f(S1 + S2 + . . . : + S )
= [Li 3 L =L 0 S 0 ( 0  01 ) ]=Si
R; t R T T n

R; t R i i i ;t 0 (S13 + S23 + . . .. . .. . . : + S 3 )=S 2 g = 0:0

= (L 3 L =(S 3 L ) 0 1 0 ( 0  01) =S
n R

i R; t i R i i ;t i (6)
or
6( 0  01) = (1 0 0 ) + (2 0 1 )
i i ;t

R; t =S = (L R R; t 0 S )=S = (L =S 0 1)
R R R; t R + . . . : + ( 0  01) = 0:0 n n

The rate of slack can also be calculated from Eq. 3: 6( 0  01) = ( 0 0 ) = 0:0
i i ;t n (13)

 =S = (L 0 S )=Si = (8 3 D2 )=(3 3 S 2 )
i; t i i; t i; t i; t i
The following observations can be made from a review of the
= 8 3 D2 3 S 2 =(3 3 S 4 )
ruling span equations 8 through 13:
R; t i R (7)
1) The change in the span length of any span is independent
Finally the change in the rate of slack and span length due to of the location of the span in the line segment. However,
a change in temperature from T0 to T can be calculated from the longitudinal horizontal movement of each suspension
equations 8 to 11: clamp depends on the location of the suspension insulator
string within the line segment, Eq. 10.
Change [i; t =Si]T 0!T = Change [R; t=SR ]T 0!T 2) The change in the span length of any span due to a tem-
0 ( 0  01 )=S
i i i (8) perature increase will be negative if the span length is
KESHAVARZIAN AND PRIEBE: SAG AND TENSION CALCULATIONS FOR OVERHEAD TRANSMISSION LINES 779

larger than the ruling span and it will be positive if the

span length is smaller than the ruling span. The sum of
changes in span lengths of all spans larger than the ruling
span (negative values) should be equal in magnitude to
the sum of changes in span lengths of all spans smaller
than the ruling span (positive values), Eq. 10 and Eq. 13.
3) The maximum increase in the span length due to a tem-
perature increase will occur at span Sc = SR = . This
p3
maximum increase is equal to:
(
Max. i 0 i01 ) = 16 3 (D2 0 D2 )=(9p3 3 S )
;t R; t R R (14)
This span length, Sc , is defined as the critical span. When
a temperature increase occurs, any span shorter than the
ruling span will be subjected to a smaller increase in span
length than the critical span. In addition, for any span
shorter than the critical span, there is a unique span, Si3 ,
that, if substituted for Si , will not change the ruling span
length and will be subjected to the same increase in span
length for a given increase in temperature. The length of
this span, Si3 , can be calculated from Eq. 15:
Si3 = [0S + p(4 3 S2 0 3 3 S2 )]=2
i R i (15) Fig. 1. Force balance at the suspension clamp.

or

(S3 + S )2 0 S3 3 S = S2
i i i i R Hi; t = H + K 3 (1 0 1 01)
i; t i; t i i ;t (19)
where:
= S + (1 0 1 01)
 S = S =p3  S
Si; t
SR > Si3
i i i ;t (20)
c R i

4) The longitudinal suspension clamp movement is the Di; t = (w 3 S2 )=(8 3 H ):

largest when all spans larger than the ruling span are
located at one end of the line segment. The suspension
insulator string between the span larger and the span
shorter than the ruling span will be subjected to the
largest longitudinal movement. In general, for lines with
spans larger than the critical span, if the spans are located
in consecutive order by span length from one end to the
other end of the line segment the sags calculated by the
ruling span method will have the maximum errors as
compare with any other arrangement of the spans.
B. Modified Ruling Span Method
For standard suspension insulator lengths, the longitudinal
movements of the suspension clamps rotate the insulators from
a vertical position and cause some tension differential in the ad-
jacent spans. The longitudinal horizontal movements of suspen-
sion clamps due to temperature changes can be calculated from
the equilibrium condition, Fig. 1:
1 = [(H +1 0 H ) + K 3 1 01 + K +1 3 1 +1 ] (
i; t i ;t i; t i; t i ;t
=(K + K +1 + k ) (16)
i; t i ;t i
i; t i; t (21)
It should be realized that the effects of temperature and sup-
port stiffness on the conductor tension are considered separately.
First, the effects of temperature on the conductor tension are cal-
culated from the tension-temperature relationship based on in-
finitely rigid insulator supports. Then the differential conductor
tension at each support is redistributed based on the insulator
stiffness and conductor span stiffness at each side of the sup-
port. Therefore, the conductor span stiffness, Ki; t , which relates
change in the horizontal conductor tension to change in the hori-
zontal span length should be evaluated at the condition at which
the force balance is required, i.e. at temperature T . In addition,
the conductor span stiffness is independent of the location of
the span within the ruling span section and the stiffness of the
suspension insulators. Therefore, changing the stiffness of sus-
pension insulators should not have an effect on the span stiff-
nesses and the span stiffnesses can be directly evaluated from
the equilibrium condition of the two extreme conductor support
conditions, 17. Substituting the expression for span change, Eq.
i ;t i ;t
)
i 0 i01 ;t , from Eq. 12 into Eq. 17 yields the following ex-
pressions:

1=K = f(S 3 3 w2)[1=(24 3 H 2) 0 1=(24 3 H 2 )]

i; t i i; t R; t

+ (H 0 H ) 3 S =(E 3 A)g=(H 0 H )
= (H 0 H )=( 0  01)
R; t i; t i R; t i; t
Ki; t R; t i; t i i ;t (17)

1=K = S3 3 w2 3 (H + H )=(24 3 H
i; t i R; t i; t i; t
2 3 H2
R; t
)
ki = W =h i (18) + S =(E 3 A) i (22)
780 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, VOL. 15, NO. 2, APRIL 2000

suspension I-strings are in a vertical position. The ruling span

1=K = (
i; t i; t =H R; t ) + ( i; t =H i; t ) + S =(E 3 A)
i (23)
sag at this temperature is equal to 26.63 feet. The conductor
coefficient of thermal elongation and modulus of elasticity are
11 8 10 1 9 5 10
: 2 06 = F and : 2 6 psi, respectively.
When the conductor temperature increases to 212 F, the sag
1=K = (2 3 
R; t R; t =H R; t ) + S =(E 3 A)
R (24) and tension of the ruling span can be calculated by the ten-
Where: sion-temperature relationship. The changes in the relative slacks
and span lengths can be calculated from ruling span equations
 i; t = (S 3 3 w2)=(24 3 H 2 )
i R; t
8 & 11. Table I summaries these calculations. The suspension
clamps at the two sides of the 1500-foot span must move toward
For infinitely flexible suspension supports between dead-end the 1500-foot span by 2.17 feet and 1.05 feet to equalize con-
structures, the unbalance forces are equal to zero, the con- ductor tensions to the ruling span tension and to decrease the
ductor horizontal tensions (HR; t ) are calculated from the 1500-foot span length by approximately 3.22 feet. There are
tension-temperature relationship, and the changes in the span
( )
only two spans with lengths larger than the ruling span. The
lengths i 0 i01 ;t can be evaluated from Eq. 10 or Eq. 12. sum of changes in the span lengths of these two spans due to
For infinitely rigid conductor supports, the changes in the span temperature change is equal to 03.86 feet which is also equal
lengths are equal to zero; the conductor horizontal tensions in magnitude to the sum of changes in span lengths of all other
(H i; t ) and sags can be evaluated as if the line were a series of +
eight spans, 3.86 feet. This also indicates that if one rearranges
“n” single dead-end spans. The conductor span stiffnesses at these 10 unequal span lengths and locates the 2 spans with span
temperature T are evaluated from Eq. 17 or Eq. 23. lengths larger than the ruling span at one end of the line, the sus-
The actual longitudinal movements of the suspension clamps
1 1 1
pension clamp between the span larger and the span shorter than
at supports 1 to “n 0 ” ( 1 to n01) can be evaluated from
1 1
the ruling span would be subjected to the largest longitudinal
Eq. 16. The value of i; t depends on the value of i+1; t which
1
movement and this movement would be approximately equal to
is not known at the time of calculation of i; t . Therefore, an 3.86 feet.
iterative procedure was adopted to calculate the longitudinal At 212 F conductor temperature, the sags, tensions, and lon-
movements of the suspension clamps. i; t . For the first iter- 1
1
gitudinal horizontal movements of the conductor suspension
ation, the initial values of i; t are assumed to be equal to i; t . clamps can also be calculated from the modified ruling span
The imbalance forces resulting from initial approximations of
1
force balance Eqs. 16 through 23. Table I summarizes these cal-
i; t are iteratively eliminated. The iterative process converges

1
culations. The adequacy of the proposed method can be tested
very rapidly from the initial values of i; t . It should be men- in the following two ways:
tioned that the sum of changes in the horizontal span lengths,
6(1 1 )i 0 i01 ;t of all spans within the line segment must also
Method 1: If the longitudinal horizontal movements of the
1
conductor suspension clamps ( i; t ) provides the equi-
be equal to zero.
librium force balance at each suspension clamp at tem-
perature 212 , the line can be treated, for the purpose
The proposed method is based on elastic conductor behavior
with a constant modulus of elasticity, E , and a constant linear
of calculations, as 10 single dead-end spans with span
thermal elongation, , at all temperature/loading conditions. It
lengths equal to the span lengths at 212 F tempera-
can be generalized to determine conductor sags and tensions
ture, calculated by equation 20. Using the new span
for other conductor loading conditions such as extreme wind,
lengths and knowing the initial conductor tension of
8410 pounds at 50 F and increase in the length of the
heavy ice, or combined ice and wind loading. It is a simple
and straightforward numerical method which can easily be pro-
conductor due to temperature changes, the sag and ten-
sion for each span at 212 F temperature can be calcu-
grammed, especially by a spreadsheet approach.
Equations 10 and 16 are the focal point of this paper. The
1
(n 0 ) equilibrium equations in terms of longitudinal move-
lated from the tension-temperature relationship of the
conductor. These calculated sags and tensions should
ment of the conductor suspension supports, Eq. 16, are solved
be equal to the sags and tensions as calculated by Eq. 19
by using an iterative procedure rather than the standard numer-
and Eq. 21.
ical matrix method. Their usefulness and accuracy in calculating
Method 2: The other method which call be used to verify the
conductor sags and tensions will be demonstrated and discussed
accuracy of Equations 16 through 23, is the finite el-
in the following two examples.
ement method. In this case, the IEEE sample line is
modeled using the finite element computer program
III. NUMERICAL EXAMPLES
SAGSEC [5].
Example-1: Consider the example line used in the IEEE The results of these two methods as well as the value
Task Force paper [1] which consists of 10 unequal spans of of sags reported in the IEEE paper [1] are also summa-
1590 Kcmil, ACSR Lapwing conductor with a 1000-foot ruling rized in Table. Comparison of sags and tensions cal-
span. The first and the last structures are dead-end structures culated by the proposed method, by Method-1 and by
and the nine structures in between are suspension structures the finite element method (Method-2) are in very good
with 60-inch long I-string assemblies. At normal everyday agreement. The discrepancy in computed sags between
condition (50 F, no ice, no wind) the horizontal tension in the proposed method and the finite element method are
the conductor in all tell spans is about 8410 lbs and the less than 2% These discrepancies are believed to be
KESHAVARZIAN AND PRIEBE: SAG AND TENSION CALCULATIONS FOR OVERHEAD TRANSMISSION LINES
TABLE I
SUMMARY OF EXAMPLE-1 CALCULATIONS
due to the parabolic and numerical approximations in-
cluded in the modified ruling span method equations.
Example-2: Consider an eight span line consisting of a long
1500-foot span and seven equal 821-foot spans of 795 Kcmil,
ACSR Drake conductor with a 1000-foot ruling span. This line
is also studied by Seppa [6]. At 60 F unloaded condition, the
horizontal tension in the conductor in all eight spans is about
5000 lbs and the suspension I-strings are in a vertical position.
The ruling span sag at this temperature is equal to 27.33 feet.
The conductor coefficient of thermal elongation and modulus
of elasticity are 10:4554 2 1006 1= F and 10:5 2 106 psi,
respectively. When the line temperature increases to 212 F,
the calculated sags from the three methods—the proposed
method, Method-1, and Method-2, as well as the values of the
sags reported in the Seppa paper [6], are summarized in Table
II. Again, the discrepancies between the calculated sags from
these methods are less than 2%.
In this example, the line section consists of equal spans with
the exception of the first span, which is almost twice as long
as the other spans. The long span pulls all suspension insula-
tors, creating a large longitudinal horizontal movement of the
suspension clamp adjacent to the 1500-foot span. The actual
horizontal movement of the suspension clamp adjacent to the
781
1500-foot span is approximately equal to 1.1 feet as compared
to 2.7 feet as calculated from the ruling span method. This large
2.7-foot horizontal movement would create a very large unbal-
anced force, violating the assumption of equalization of tensions
in all spans. Therefore, the ruling span method is not accurate
and should not be used in a line of this type at high conductor
temperature.
The effects of change in the temperature from 60 F to 250 F
on the span stiffnesses of the 1500-foot span, the 1000 foot
ruling span, and the 821-foot span are shown in Fig. 2. At 60 F
temperature, in order to decrease the span length of the 1500 and
821 foot spans by one foot, the conductor horizontal tensions
should decrease by 346 lbs and 1825 lbs, respectively. However,
at 212 F temperature, the required reduction in the conductor
tensions are only 191 and 806 lbs. This illustrates that changes
in temperature have more dramatic effects in the span stiffnesses
of shorter spans than in those of longer spans.
IV. CONCLUSIONS
A general procedure for the evaluation of conductor sags and
tensions of a level transmission line which includes the force
balance at each suspension clamp is presented. The procedure
782 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER DELIVERY, VOL. 15, NO. 2, APRIL 2000

TABLE II
SUMMARY OF EXAMPLE-2 CALCULATIONS

APPENDIX
The detailed procedures for obtaining Eqs. 8 through 12 are
discussed in this section. The change in the rate of slack of the
ruling span and i-th span due to a change in temperature from T0
to T can be calculated from Eq. 6 by evaluating at temperature
T and T0 :
Change [R; t =SR ]T 0!T = [R; t =SR ]@T
=SR ]@T 0 0 [ R; t

= ( LR; t 0 SR )=SR 0 (LR 0 SR )=SR = (LR; t 0 LR )=SR :

(A1)

Change [i; t =Si ]T 0!T = [i; t =Si ]@T 0 [ =S ]@

i; t i T 0
= [(L 3 Li )=(S 3 L ) 0 1 0 (
R; t i R i 0  01 ) =S ]
i ;t i

Fig. 2 Conductor span stiffness vs. temperature. 0 [L =S 0 1]

i i

= (L 3 S =L 3 S ) 3 (L
i R R 0 L )=S 0 ( 0  01) =S
i R; t R R i i ;t i

=  3 Change [
i =S ] 0! 0 ( 0  01 ) =S
R; t R T (A2) T i i ;t i

is developed around the traditional ruling span concept but is ap- where:
plicable for any series of span lengths. The horizontal force bal-
ance at each conductor support is achieved by allowing move-
i = (Li 3 S )=(L 3 S )
R R i

ment of the conductor support. The force imbalance is itera- = (3 3 S 4 + 8 3 D 2 3 S 2 )=(3 3 S 4 + 8 3 D2 3 S 2 )

R R i R R R

tively eliminated to ensure static equilibrium. The procedure is
simple and it can be easily incorporated into a spreadsheet com-
puter program. Numerical examples are included to demonstrate
agreement between the results of the proposed method and the
more complicated finite element method. A number of qualita-
tive conclusions, based on the derived equations, are also given
in the paper.
The magnitude of i which is evaluated at temperature T0
is very close to one, because the riding span sag at stringing
temperature is usually less than 5% of the ruling span length. In
Example-1 the values of  for the 1500-foot and 450-foot spans
are 1.002 and 0.998, respectively. In addition the value of i is
multiplied by the change in the rate of slack of the ruling span,
which is significantly smaller than one (usually on the order of
KESHAVARZIAN AND PRIEBE: SAG AND TENSION CALCULATIONS FOR OVERHEAD TRANSMISSION LINES 783

0
10 3 ).Therefore, it is reasonable to substitute i = 1. Eq. 8 is
obtained by replacing i with unity in the above Eq. A2.
The change in the rate of slack of ruling span and i-th span
can also be evaluated in terms of sags from Eq. 7:
In the above equation, the length of the conductor in a single
dead-end span can be replaced with the span length for sim-
plicity, In addition, Eq. A8 can also be written in terms of slack:
(i0  01) = (S 3 3 w2 )f1=(24 3 H 2 0 1=(24 3 H 2 )g
0 [
i ;t i i; t R; t
Change [R; t =SR ]T 0!T = [R; t=SR ]@T R; t =SR ]@T 0
+ (H 0 H ) 3 S =(E 3 A) (A9)
3 D 2 =(3 3 S 2 )] 0 [8 3 D2 =(3 3 S 2 )]
R; t i; t i
= [8 R; t R R R

= 8 3 (D
2 0 D2 )=(3 3 S 2 ) (A3)
R; t R R

(i 0  01 )
i ;t = ( i; t 0 i; t ) + (HR; t 0H i; t ) 3 S =(E 3 A)
i

(A10)
Change [i; t =Si ]T 0!T 0 [ =S ]@ 0
= [i; t =Si ]@T i; t i T

= [8 3 D 3 S =(3 3 S )] 0 [8 3 D 3 S 2 =(3 3 S 4 )]
2 2 4 2
R; t i R R i R ACKNOWLEDGMENT
= 8 3 (D
2 0 D2 ) 3 S 2 =(3 3 S 4 )
R; t R i R The authors would like to thank their colleague at ComEd,
= Change [ =S ] 0! 3 (S =S )2
R; t R T T (A4) i R
Mr. Parvez Rashid, Member IEEE, for reviewing this paper.

Substituting the value of change in the rate of slack of the i-th

span from Eq. A4 into Eq. 8 and then solving for (i 0 i01);t
REFERENCES
[1] Y. Motlis et al., “Limitations of the Ruling Span Method for Overhead
yields the following expressions: Line Conductors at High Operating Temperatures,” in Report of
Change [R; t =SR ]T 0!T 3 (S =S )2 i R
the IEEE Task Force “Bare Conductor Sag at High Temperature”,
IEEE/PES Winter Meeting, 1998.
= Change [R; t =S ] 0! 0 ( 0  01 ) =S
R T T I i ;t i
[2] E. S. Thayer, “Computing Tensions in Transmission Lines,” Electrical

0  01) = Change [ =S ] 0! 3 S
World Magazine, pp. 72–73, 1924.
(i i ;t R; t R T T i [3] C. O. Boyse and N. G. Simpson, “The Problem of Conductor Sagging
3 [1 0 (S =S )2]i R (A5)
on Overhead Transmission Lines,” Journal AIEE, pt. II, vol. 91, pp.
219–231, 1944.
[4] One Southwire Drive30 119 Overhead Conductor Manual. Carrollton,
Slack of i-th span at temperature T for infinitely rigid and Georgia: Southwire Company, 1994.
flexible insulator support can be calculated from the following [5] SAGSEC, , “Computer Program for Sags and Tensions in Multi-Span
two equations: Systems, Power Line Systems,”, Madison, WI, 1997.
[6] T. O. Seppa. Sags and Tension Equalization at High Temperatures. pre-
 i; t = Li; t 0 Si = (Si
3 3 w2)=(24 3 H i; t
2) (A6) sented at 1996 Summer Power Meeting, Symposium on Thermal Rating

i; t = Li; t 0 Si; t = (Si

3 3 w2 )=(24 3 H 2 R; t ) (A7)
Mehran Keshavarzian, Member ASCE, received the B.Sc. degree in Civil En-
where: gineering from the University of Tehran, Iran. He obtained his M.Sc. and Ph.D.
in structures from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1981 and
Li; t = Li; t [1 + (HR; t 0 H i; t)=(E 3 A)] 1984, respectively. He is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) in the state

Si; t = Si + (i 0 i01 );t

of California since 1986 and a registered Structural Engineer (SE) in the state
of Illinois and California since 1990. He is currently senior transmission struc-
tural engineer at the Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) in Chicago.
Substituting the values of Li; t and Si; t into Eq. A7 and then Mehran.Keshavarzian@ucm.com.
solving for (i 0 i01 );t :
Li; t [1 + (HR; t 0 H i; t )=(E 3 A)] 0 Si 0 (i 0 i01 );t
= (Si 3 w )=(24 3 HR; t )
3 2 2 Charles H. Priebe, Member ASCE, received his B.Sc. degree in Civil En-

(L i; t 0 Si ) + Li; t 3 (HR; t 0 H i; t)=(E 3 A) 0 (i 0 i01 );t

gineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1973. He
has been a registered Professional Engineer (PE) in the state of Illinois since
= (Si 3 w )=(24 3 HR; t )
3 2 2 1979. He is currently the Technical Lead Engineer in the Transmission Line
Engineering Department at the Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) in
(i 0 i01 );t = (Si 3 w )f1=(24 3 H i; t ) 0 1=(24 3 HR; t)g
3 2 2 2 Chicago. His professional interests are in the application of computers and new

+ (HR; t 0 H i; t ) 3 Li; t =(E 3 A)

technologies to the physical design and analysis of overhead transmission lines.
(A8) Charles.H.Priebe@ucm.com.