Following ASTM, ANSI, IEEE, CIGRE and other relevant industry-standard test protocols, a substantial amount of testing was performed on the ACCC® conductor and its composite core during the ACCC® conductor's initial development phase. Since that time, hundreds of tests have also been performed on the ACCC® conductor to assess not only its performance and suitability with various hardware and ancillary components, but also to assess its longevity. While industry-standard conductor test protocols have been closely followed, in some cases, aerospace and other composite material industry-standardized testing have also been followed.
While additional testing continues as new ACCC® conductor sizes are developed, other specialized testing continues to be performed by various entities worldwide as part of a growing “type-certification” process in various countries. Extensive testing performed to date has underscored the suitability and durability of ACCC® composite core technology for bare overhead conductor applications. These tests include sustained load tests, thermal and moisture tests, tensile and flexural tests, and many others.
As new ACCC® conductor sizes are introduced, each new design is also run through a series of tests that include stress-strain, creep, ultimate strength, electrical resistance, and other testing to ensure that each new conductor size performs to all applicable industry standards. Polynomials and other data are then created to help design engineers calculate conductor performance.
While every reel of ACCC® conductor produced is tested to ISO-certified quality assurance standards, each reel of composite core produced is also run through a barrage of testing prior to being stranded. These additional tests ensure that every reel of ACCC® conductor delivered meets exceptionally high quality assurance standards.