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Calculate preliminary ADSS cable working tension from span, sag, cable weight, wind and ice loading. Estimate RTS/MAT requirement, aramid yarn count and accessory BOM before requesting a project-specific sag-tension chart.
Use this calculator when cable OD, unit weight, span and sag are available. It calculates ice load, wind load, combined load, maximum working tension, estimated RTS/MAT requirement and preliminary aramid yarn count.
Span & Sag Concept
Smaller sag sharply increases working tension. Use the final sag-tension chart for actual pole-line design.
The calculator follows a practical ADSS pre-check path: cable weight + ice load + wind load → combined load → maximum working tension → RTS/MAT estimate → aramid yarn section and count.
| Step | Formula | Meaning | Engineering Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Load | W2 = 0.00283 × t × (D + t) | Estimated vertical ice load, kg/m | D and t are in mm. Use local ice design data where available. |
| Wind Load | W3 = C × (D + 2t) × V² × α / 16000 | Estimated horizontal wind load, kg/m | When ice exists, projected diameter should use D + 2t. |
| Combined Load | W = √[(W1 + W2)² + W3²] | Vector combined cable loading, kg/m | Vertical load and horizontal wind load are combined as vectors. |
| Working Tension | Nmax = [W×L²/(8f) + W×f] × 9.80665 / 1000 | Maximum working tension, kN | L and f are in meters. This is not the same as RTS. |
| RTS Estimate | RTS_required = Nmax / MAT ratio | Estimated rated tensile strength requirement | Default MAT ratio is 40% of RTS for preliminary screening. |
| Aramid Section | S = Nmax / (E × ε) | Required aramid section, mm² | Nmax in kN, E in GPa, ε as decimal strain. |
| Single Yarn Area | A = dtex / density / 10000 | Single aramid yarn cross-section, mm² | Default density is 1.45 g/cm³. |
| Yarn Count | n = S / A × safety factor | Recommended aramid yarn count | Usually round up to an even number for production symmetry. |
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W = √[(W1 + W2)² + W3²] Nmax(kN) = [W×L²/(8f) + W×f] × 9.80665 / 1000 S(mm²) = Nmax(kN) / [E(GPa) × ε] Recommended yarn count = CEILING(S / A × 1.15) Unit note: in this engineering shorthand, 1 kN / 1 GPa = 1 mm², so Nmax in kN and E in GPa give S in mm².
The accessory recommendation is a preliminary BOM direction only. Final quantities depend on pole count, route angle, terminal points, cable reserve points, clamp holding strength and actual cable RTS.
For straight or tangent pole routes, the basic BOM usually includes ADSS suspension sets, pole clamps and related fastening hardware.
For terminal poles, angle poles and crossing spans, ADSS tension sets, guy grips or dead-end grips should be reviewed according to RTS and route angle.
Downlead clamps, cable storage brackets and splice box mounting hardware are normally required at terminal, joint or equipment access points.
For a reliable quotation and sag-tension chart, customers should provide cable physical data, route loading, sag requirement and installation environment.
| Data Required | Why It Matters | Example Format |
|---|---|---|
| Cable OD and unit weight | Used to calculate wind load, ice load and total loading | D = 15 mm, W1 = 0.20 kg/m |
| Span and sag | Directly controls working tension Nmax | Span 600 m, sag 12 m or sag ratio 2% |
| Wind speed and ice thickness | Used for mechanical loading and sag-tension simulation | Wind 30 m/s, ice 5 mm |
| Required RTS / MAT standard | Defines safety margin and structure strength | MAT 40% RTS, 60% RTS tension reference |
| Aramid yarn type | Affects section, yarn count and cable design | 8350 dtex, E = 115 GPa, density 1.45 g/cm³ |
| Power line voltage or space potential | Determines whether AT sheath review is required | 110 kV transmission corridor nearby |
No. Nmax is the calculated maximum working tension under the selected loading condition. RTS is the rated tensile strength of the cable. In preliminary design, Nmax should normally be checked against MAT, and RTS can be estimated from Nmax divided by the MAT ratio.
Because wind acts on the projected outside diameter of the iced cable. If the ice thickness is t on all sides, the projected diameter becomes D + 2t.
For the same span and load, smaller sag leads to much higher tension. This is why final ADSS cable selection should always be confirmed using a project-specific sag-tension chart.
The calculator estimates required aramid section using Nmax, aramid modulus and allowable strain. Then it divides the required section by the single yarn section calculated from dtex and density, and finally applies a safety margin and rounding rule.
Double jacket ADSS cable is commonly reviewed for longer spans, harsher outdoor routes, higher mechanical stress, mountain areas, coastal exposure or applications where extra sheath protection is required.
Anti-tracking sheath should be reviewed when ADSS cable is installed near power lines, high-voltage corridors, polluted areas or coastal environments where electrical tracking risk may exist.
Please send cable OD, cable weight, fiber count, span, sag, wind speed, ice thickness, required RTS/MAT standard, installation area, pole route layout, voltage exposure, jacket preference and any crossing or angle pole information.
Send your cable OD, cable weight, span, sag, wind, ice, RTS/MAT requirement and pole route data to ZION Communication. Our team can help review ADSS cable structure, aramid yarn configuration, jacket type and accessory BOM.
