Creep Studies of Aluminum Conductor Alloys

The results of a comprehensive laboratory test program on the creep characteristics of EC-H19, 5005-H19, and 6201- T81 aluminum alloy conductor wires are presented. Creep curves for those alloys are illustrated over a stress range of 15 to 25 percent minimum average strengths and a temperature range of 25 to 100°C. The importance of creep history as a function of total creep at any time and temperature is presented. A correlation is made between wire creep and the creep of conductors made from the wire. A projection is made that creep data presented in this paper will be used to predict total creep of conductors over their service life when reasonable estimates of operating conditions are made.