A Study on the Tensile Strength Degradation Characteristics of ACSR-OC Wires according to Transporting Current

Power cables are essential apparatuses to transmit electricity in power grid. The reliability of power cables is related not only to dielectric characteristics of an insulation material but also to mechanical characteristics that may be affected by operating conditions. ACSR-OC (aluminum conductor steel reinforced outdoor cross-linked polyethylene insulated wire) wires have been widely used in urban power systems and are mainly used in distribution lines. When over-current is transported through ACSR-OC wires, there could be some mechanical degradation as well as electrical degradation. Degradation of wires caused by over-current may cause serious accidents such as electrical breakdown, disconnection, and so on. In this paper, a tensile strength test of an ACSR-OC wire core according to applying time and amplitude of over-current is conducted. As a result, it is found that the tensile strength of the ACSR-OC core decreases due to the over-current.