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AREMA C&S Manual

2001 Part 10.3.11 Deleted: 2000

Recommended Design Criteria for Aluminum

Conductors, Steel Reinforced (ACSR)
Revised 2001 (6 Pages) Deleted: affirmed
Deleted: 0
A. Purpose
This Manual Part recommends design criteria for concentric-
lay-stranded aluminum conductors, steel reinforced. See
Manual Part 1.4.1 (Identical Items "Boilerplate" for all
Manual Parts), Section A.

B. Other Recommendations
The following recommendations should be considered:
1. Type Conductor (Noncompacted, 100, 150 or 200).
2. Size of Conductor AWG.
3. Stranding (Aluminum/Steel).
4. Length of wire to be shipped on each reel or coil.

C. Alternate Recommendations
See Manual Part 1.4.1, Section B.

D. Conductor
1. Before stranding, the alumimun wires used for
noncompacted ACSR shall conform to American Society
for Testing & Materials (ASTM) Standard B230 Deleted: -98
(Specification for Aluminum 1350-H19 Wire for
Electrical Purposes).

2. Before stranding and compacting, the round aluminum

wires used for compacted ACSR shall conform to ASTM
Standard B230. Aluminum wires shaped before stranding Deleted: -98
shall conform to ASTM Standard B230 except for shape, Deleted: -98
tensile and elongation requirements, and diameter
tolerances. The minimum tensile and elongation
requirements shall be 96% of those for round wires of
the same nominal area, provided the completed
conductor is capable of meeting the requirements of
Section F-4. The area tolerances for shaped wires
shall be such that the finished conductor conforms to
Section I.

3. Before stranding, the zinc-coated steel core wire used

shall conform to all the Class A requirements of ASTM
Standard B498/B498M (Specification for Zinc-Coated Deleted: -98
(Galvanized) Steel Core Wire for Aluminum Conductors,
Steel Reinforced (ACSR)), except that the core wire
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Part 10.3.11 2001 Deleted: 10
Deleted: 2000
shall be galvanized by the electro-galvanizing
process.

4. Electric butt welds in the finished individual

aluminum wires composing the conductor may be made
during the stranding process. No weld shall occur
within 50 ft. of a weld in the same wire or in any
other wire of the completed conductor.

5. There shall be no joints of any kind made in the

finished zinc-coated steel core wire.

E. Assembly
1. The preferred lay of the aluminum wires of
noncompacted ACSR having a single wire steel core and
one layer of aluminum wires is 13 times the outside
diameter of a single strand but shall be not less than
12 nor more than 14.5 times that diameter.

2. The preferred lay of the aluminum wires of compacted

ACSR having a single wire steel core and one layer of
aluminum wires is 14 times the outside diameter of a
single strand but shall be not less than 13 nor more
than 16 times that diameter.

3. The direction of lay of the aluminum wires shall be

right-hand (*R-E-3)

4. The number and diameter of aluminum and steel wires

and the areas of cross-section of aluminum wires for
noncompacted ACSR shall conform to Table 1.

5. The number and diameter of the steel core wires, the

number of aluminum wires, the areas of cross-section
of aluminum wires, the diameter and weight of
compacted ACSR shall conform to Table 2.

F. Physical and Electrical Tests

1. Tests for physical and electrical properties of
aluminum wires used in the conductor shall be made
before stranding conforming to ASTM Standard B230. Deleted: -98

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*Alternate Recommendations Section
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AREMA C&S Manual
2001 Part 10.3.11 Deleted: 2000

2. Tests for all properties of zinc-coated steel core

wire used in the conductor shall be made before
stranding in accordance with, and shall conform to
ASTM Standard B498/B498M. Deleted: -98

3. Tests for ultimate tensile strength of completed

noncompacted ACSR conductor shall conform to ASTM
Standard B232 (Specification for Concentric-Lay Deleted: -97
Stranded Aluminum Conductors, Coated-Steel Reinforced
(ACSR)). Rated tensile strength shown in Table 1 is
given as information. (*R-F-3)

TABLE 1
NONCOMPACTED AC SR

Conductor
size Stranding
(aluminum)

Aluminum Steel Rated

tensile
No. of Diameter, No. of Diameter, strength,
Circular AWG Wires inches wires inches pounds
mils

133,100 00 6 0.1489 1 0.1489 5,350

105,600 0 6 0.1327 1 0.1327 4,290
83,690 1 6 0.1181 1 0.1181 3,480
66,360 2 7 0.0974 1 0.1299 3,640
66,360 2 6 0.1052 1 0.1052 2,790
52,620 3 6 0.0937 1 0.0937 2,300
41,740 4 7 0.0772 1 0.1029 2,360
41,740 4 6 0.0834 1 0.0834 1,830
33,090 5 6 0.0743 1 0.0743 1,490
26,240 6 6 0.0661 1 0.0661 1,170

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*Alternate Recommendations Section
TABLE 2
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AREMA C&S Manual
Part 10.3.11 2001 Deleted: 10
Deleted: 2000
COMPACTED ACSR

Conductor Stranding Complete conductor

size norminal Rated
(aluminum) Aluminum Steel tensile
AWG strength
Circular Diameter Diameter Weight pounds
mils No. of wires No. of wires inches inches LB/1000 ft.

TYPE 100

133,100 00 6 1 0.1489 0.410 182.8 5,350

105,600 0 6 1 0.1327 0.365 145.2 4,290
83,690 1 6 1 0.1181 0.326 115.0 3,480
66,360 2 6 1 0.1052 0.290 91.2 2,790
52,620 3 6 1 0.0937 0.258 72.4 2,300
41,740 4 6 1 0.0834 0.229 57.3 1,830
26,240 6 6 1 0.0661 0.182 36.0 1,170

TYPE 150

105,600 0 6 1 0.1878 0.388 192.0 6,510

83,690 1 6 1 0.1672 0.346 152.2 5,190
66,360 2 6 1 0.1489 0.308 120.8 4,150
41,740 4 6 1 0.1181 0.243 76.0 2,710
26,240 6 6 1 0.0937 0.193 47.8 1,720
16,510 8 6 1 0.0743 0.154 30.0 1,110

TYPE 200

66,360 2 6 1 0.1878 0.331 155.4 5,790

41,740 4 6 1 0.1489 0.264 97.8 3,690
26,240 6 6 1 0.1181 0.208 61.5 2,400
16,510 8 6 1 0.0937 0.165 38.7 1,510

4. Tests for ultimate tensile strength of completed

compacted ACSR conductor shall conform to ASTM
Standard B401 (Specification for Compact Round Deleted: -92
Concentric-Lay-Stranded Aluminum Conductors, Steel-
Reinforced (ACSR)/COMP). Rated tensile strength shown
in Table 2 is given as information. (*R-F-4)

5. When tests are so made, the ultimate tensile strength

of the conductor shall be at least 95% of the
calculated conductor strength.

G. Density
1. For the purpose of calculating weights, cross-
sections, etc., the density of aluminum shall be taken
as 2.705 grams per cu. cm. (0.0975 lb. per cu. in.) at
+20EC(+68EF).
______________________________________________
*Alternate Recommendations Section
2. For the purpose of calculating weights, cross-
sections, etc., the density of galvanized steel wire
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2001 Part 10.3.11 Deleted: 2000

shall be taken as 7.78 grams per cu. cm. (0.281 lb.

per cu. in.) at +20EC(+68EF).

H. Weight and Electrical Resistance

1. The weight and electrical resistance of a stranded
conductor are greater than the total of these
characteristics of the wires composing the conductor
depending upon the lay. The standard increments shall
be taken as given in Table 3.
TABLE 3

Stranding of ACSR Increment (increase), percent

Number of wires Weight

Aluminum Steel Aluminum Steel Resistance

6 1 1.5 0 1.5
7 1 1.5 0 1.5

2. In cases where the lay is definitely known, the

increments may be calculated if desired.

3. In the calculation of the electrical resistance of a

completed conductor, the zinc-coated steel core wire
shall be neglected.

I. Cross-section Area
The area of cross-section of the aluminum wires of a
conductor shall be not less than 98% of the area specified.
The area of cross-section shall conform to ASTM Standard
B232 for noncompacted ACSR, or ASTM Standard B401 for Deleted: -97
compacted ACSR. Deleted: -92

J. Reels
1. The conductor should be placed on substantially
constructed reels that are of suitable size with a
minimum inside diameter of 20 in. and in good
condition. The reels should be properly lagged or
otherwise protected. (*R-J-1)

______________________________________________
*Alternate Recommendations Section
2. Reels should be provided with cast-iron bushing or
iron plate at the center on each side having hole of
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AREMA C&S Manual
Part 10.3.11 2001 Deleted: 10
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sufficient size to take shaft suitable for the weight
of the conductor.

K. Identification
1. A weatherproof tag should be firmly attached to each
reel and coil of conductor showing the size, kind of
conductor, number of feet, gross weight, stranding,
class of zinc coating, name of manufacturer, date of
manufacture and any other necessary identification.

2. Reels should be plainly stenciled with arrow and

suitable accompanying wording on each end of reel,
indicating which way it shall be rolled.

Alternate Recommendations Section

R-E-3. The direction of lay of the aluminum wires shall be

left-hand.

R-F-3. Tests for ultimate tensile strength of completed

conductor are not required.

R-F-4. Tests for ultimate tensile strength of completed

conductor are not required.

R-J-1. The conductor should be placed in coils. Each coil

should be thoroughly wrapped with a heavy weatherproof
wrapping, so as to be protected against damage in
ordinary handling and transportation.