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Energy Procedia 17 (2012) 975 982

2012 International Conference on Future Electrical Power and Energy Systems

Form-Finding System for Overhead Transmission Line Based

on ANSYS
Jia Yu-Zhuo,Liu Rui-peng
School of Civil Engineering,Northeast Dianli University,Jilin,China

Abstract
The analysis of overhead transmission line initial shape is premise of the dynamics analysis of the transmission
tower-line system. The principles and methods of form-finding of cable structures are used in the initial form-finding
of overhead transmission line. Form-finding system for overhead transmission line was developed by Visual Basic
6.0. This system can complete form-finding for overhead transmission line of continuous spans and differ-height
hang point by setting parameters. APDL parametric design language applied to ANSYS is automatically generated
and improve the form-finding for overhead transmission line based on ANSYS efficiently. An example was taken to
check the practicability and reliability of the system. This new system provides references for the future work.
by by
Elsevier
Ltd. Selection
and/or peer-review
under responsibility
of Hainan University.
2012
2011Published
Published
Elsevier
Ltd. Selection
and/or peer-review
under responsibility
of [name organizer]
Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
Keywords:overhead transmission line; ANSYS; form-finding; APDL

1.Introduction
The form-finding analysis of overhead transmission line is to determine the balance and the stress
distribution of transmission line under dead load or external load. It is the basis and prerequisite for
dynamic analysis of aeolian vibration on transmission line, transmission line ice coating and galloping and
jumping induced by transmission line ice-shedding. Therefore, the accuracy of the form-finding influences
the accuracy of the subsequent dynamic analysis.
ANSYS finite element software with strong non-linear processing is one of the most widely used
general-purpose programs for structure analysis. Therefore, the form-finding study for overhead
transmission line based on ANSYS is useful. However, ANSYS software, the English interface and
complicated modeling process is very complicated. It requires users to have higher mathematics,
mechanical background and some experience in finite element analysis and users need to spend more
energy on the modeling. Based on this problem, form-finding system for overhead transmission line was
developed by Visual Basic 6.0. Entering the form-finding system-generated order flow to the ANSYS, the
software can automatically complete accurate form-finding for overhead transmission line of continuous
spans and differ-height hang point and improve the form-finding for transmission line based on ANSYS

1876-6102 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of Hainan University.
Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license. doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2012.02.196

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efficiently. Taking an example of a large span across and studying the equilibrium state of transmission
line under dead load and icing. The results were taken to check the practicability and reliability of the
system.
2.The Basic Characteristics of Overhead Power Lines
Overhead transmission line is assumed to be non-rigid and flexible cable; it can only withstand tension
and not be bent. At present, there are three methods for form-finding of cable structure: force density
method, dynamic relaxation method and nonlinear finite element method. Among them, the nonlinear
finite element method is widely used [1].
Basic assumptions:
y
Transmission line is the ideal Wire, not be pressure and not be bent;
y
The sag of transmission line is much smaller than the span;
y
the material of transmission line meets the Hooke's Law and Meets the requirements of small
strain.
Analytical method and nonlinear finite element method for form-finding analysis of overhead
transmission lines are carried out based on the assumption.
3.The Nonlinear Finite Element Method for Overhead Transmission Line Form-Finding

3.1.Displacement Function
The curvilinear coordinate O [ is established using Lagrangian methods. The s is arc length of any
point to the midpoint before the deformation of unit and [ 2 s / l , l is the original length before
deformation. The element model of overhead transmission line is shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 1. The element model of overhead transmission line

Suppose the displacement is

>u

Nu e

>u1

v w@ ue

1
T

v1 w1 u2 v2 w2 u3 v3 w3 @

N1 0 0 N2 0 0 N3 0 0
N 0 N1 0 0 N2 0 0 N3 0
0 0 N1 0 0 N2 0 0 N3

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Shape function is the N i (i

displacement.

1, 2,3) , which is obtained under the continuity conditions of nodes

1
1
[  [ 2 1 d [ d 1
2
2
Getting the coordinates transform at the same time: N i (i 1, 2,3)
2
X NX e
N1

Here,

>x

1
1
 [  [ 2 ; N2
2
2

z @ Xe

> x1

1  [ 2 ; N3

y1 z1 x2 y2 z2 x3 y3 z3 @

The initial shape of element is decided by formula (2) [3].

3.2.The Basic Principle of Nonlinear Finite Element Method
The basic principle is creating geometric models in transmission line strings position. Using appropriate
initial strain and the smaller elastic modulus and dead load is imposed on the model. Gradually updating
the finite element model and large deformation and stress stiffening is set. The transmission line horizontal
tension is used as iteration conditions and the cycle solving is terminated when the results meet the
convergence conditions. In this case, resuming the actual elastic modulus of the material, the very small
initial response is set and solution for self-balancing. At last, the transmission line initial shape is obtained
under dead load.
The transmission line was simulated using LINK10 and the ice of transmission line was simulated
using MASS21.
4.The Development and Implementation for Form-Finding System
Form-finding system for overhead transmission line was developed by Visual Basic 6.0. By entering
the geometric parameters, materials characteristic, finite element parametric, icing parameters and so on,
APDL parametric design language applied to ANSYS is automatically generated. So, the parametric
modeling and analysis for form-finding are implemented.
The flow chart of form-finding for overhead transmission line is shown in Fig. 2. Here, F is the actual
horizontal tension of the lowest point on the conductor and F1 is the actual horizontal tension of the lowest
point on the ground. N is the horizontal tension which is the ANSYS iterative solution at the lowest point
on the conductor and N1 is the horizontal tension which is the ANSYS iterative solution at the lowest point
on the ground. PRC(PRC=1/1000) is the required accuracy to calculate. MAXPRC=ABS(NF)/F,MAXPRC1=ABS(N1-F1)/F1.

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Start

Geometric and
Material properties

Modeling and element division

Boundary conditions and gravity

Setting and solving

/POST1, extract PRC

Update model

Real material properties

Gravity is anew applied

MAXPRCPRC
MAXPRC1PRC

NO

YES
End
Figure 2. The flow chart of form-finding for overhead transmission line

Jia Yu-Zhuo and Liu Rui-peng / Energy Procedia 17 (2012) 975 982

5.Analysis of an Example
Example: a large span across is 1650m, cup tower is used as the crossing tower, the tower is 181.8
meters high and the height difference is 0.5m. The materials characteristic of the overhead transmission
line is shown in Tab.1. The design of ice thickness across the section is 15mm and checking by 30mm ice
thickness. The Ice density is 0.8g/cm3 [5-7].
TABLE I.

THE MATERIALS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE OVERHEAD TRANSMISSION LINE

Materials characteristic

Conductor

Ground

Type of transmission line

Diameter/mm
Section area/mm2
Mass per unit length/(kg/km)
Average operating stress/Mpa
Synthetic elastic/Mpa
Linear expansion coefficient/(1/)

AACSR/EST-500/230
35.2
729.56
3188.3
130
97158
15.9810-6

JLB20B-240
20.0
238.76
1595.5
205
147200
13.010-6

5.1.Form-finding under dead load

Using the form-finding system for overhead transmission line, transmission line within the file is
divided into 100 units and under the iterated conditions of the transmission line horizontal tension
(horizontal tension=average operating stress h section area ) in the transmission line, form-finding
analysis of the long span transmission lines is achieved. the displacement vector of overhead transmission
line under dead load is shown in Fig.3. We can see that after several iterative solutions the largest
displacement vector of conductor and ground were 9.1610-6 and 7.2610-6 which were close to zero.
Therefore, as shown in the Fig.3 can be considered the balance location of transmission line after the formfinding.


aThe displacement vector of conductor under dead loadbThe displacement vector of ground under dead load
Figure 3.

The displacement vector of overhead transmission line under dead load

5.2.Form-finding under icing

Uniform icing thickness is15mm, the entire transmission line under uneven icing is divided into five
sections and horizontal projection of each section length is 330m, assumptions within the same section of
conductor and ground icing conditions are the same [8]. The distribution of uneven icing conditions is

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shown in Tab.2. The form-finding results of transmission line under icing are shown in Fig.4 and Fig.5
(The dotted line is the initial shape of transmission line under dead load and the solid line is the
transmission line position after the icing ).
TABLE II.

THE DISTRIBUTION OF UNEVEN ICING CONDITIONS

Conditions
A
B
C

Parts(Ice thickness/mm)
1
20
15
10

2
18
20
15

3
15
18
20

4
12
12
18

5
10
10
12

Figure 4. The deformation of overhead transmission line under uniform icing

(a) The deformation of overhead transmission line under A condition

Jia Yu-Zhuo and Liu Rui-peng / Energy Procedia 17 (2012) 975 982

(b) The deformation of overhead transmission line under B condition

(c) The deformation of overhead transmission line under C condition
Figure 5. The deformation of overhead transmission line under uneven icing

Extract the central sag of transmission line under uniform icing, the central sag of conductor is
116.065m and the grounds sag is 114.170m. Analytic value of conductor is 115.885m and the grounds
value is 114.137m. The difference was less than 0.2% and form-finding system was accurate and reliable.
The response of sag in the central location along the length of uneven icing cover changes was smaller
from Fig 4. Thus, finding accurate analysis of transmission line under uneven icing can be completed by
form-finding system.
6.Conclusions
The principle with accurate finite element of form-finding for overhead transmission line was
summarized and put forward how to conduct it on ANSYS. A form-finding system for overhead
transmission line based on ANSYS using Visual Basic 6.0 was derived and improved the form-finding
work efficiently. An example was taken to check the practicability and reliability of the system. This new
system has certain practical value and provides references for the future work.

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Biography: Jia Yu-Zhuo (1964), women, professor, tutor, jiayz6087@163.com