ABSTRACT
Aluminium Conductor Steel Reinforced (ACSR) are integral components of power distribution networks in Australia, playing a key role in delivering electricity to consumers efficiently. The design of these conductors combines the lightweight, high-conductivity properties of aluminium with the high tensile strength of steel. The ACSR conductors are particularly susceptible to degradation, which can result in a loss of strength, reduced conductivity, and ultimately, failure. The determination of the remaining capacity of the conductors in the Australian power network is crucial to the understanding of their life expectancy and mitigating failure risks. Therefore, four new and two aged (removed from service) ACSR conductors were subjected to tensile capacity and corrosion testing to investigate the strength variations due to ageing. The results offer fundamental insights into the long-term strength degradation of ACSR conductors, highlighting the need for additional data to develop a robust reliability model to mitigate risks and ensure network performance.
