ASTM B 857 : 2001

1.1 This specification covers shaped wire compact concentric-lay-stranded aluminum conductors, steel supported (ACSS/TW) for use as overhead electrical conductors (see Explanatory Note 1).

1.2 The values stated in inch-pound or SI units are to be regarded separately as standard. Each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the specification. For conductor sizes designated by AWG or kcmil sizes, the requirements in SI units are numerically converted from the corresponding requirements in inch-pound units. For conductor sizes designation by AWG or kcmil, the requirements in SI units have been numerically converted from corresponding values stated or derived in inch-pound units. For conductor sizes designated by SI units only, the requirements are stated or derived in SI units.

1.2.1 For density, resistivity, and temperature, the values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.

1.3 ACSS/TW is designed to increase the aluminum area for a given diameter of conductor by the use of trapezoidal shaped wires (TW). The conductors consist of a central core of round steel wire(s) surrounded by two or more layers of trapezoidal aluminum 1350-0 wires. Different strandings of the same size of conductor are identified by type, which is the approximate ratio of steel area to aluminum area expressed in percent (see Table 1, Table 2, and Table 3 ). For the purpose of this specification, the sizes listed in Table 1 and Table 2 are tabulated on the basis of the finished conductor having an area or outside diameter equal to that of specified sizes of standard ACSR, ACSS, and ACSR/TW so as to facilitate conductor selection.