[Towertalk] Tensile strength - Cu wire

Mike Gilmer, N2MG n2mg@eham.net
Thu, 03 Oct 2002 15:25:16 -0300


Not sure where you'd find it on the web, but my (old) ITT Reference 
Data Book says that for hard-drawn copper wire, tensile strength is 
roughly 65,000lb/sq-in for wire sizes 8AWG-18AWG (lower for big wire, 
higher for smaller wire):

10AWG is .0082 sq-in,  so 520lb breaking load
14AWG is .0032 sq-in,  so 210lb breaking load

Hope this helps.
73 Mike N2MG


N1EU wrote:
>I haven't had luck searching online for info on tensile strength 
> of garden variety hard drawn copper wire.  I was hoping to compare 
> 10-14 AWG copper versus copperweld, in stranded and solid flavors.  
> I'm sure the numbers are out there, and would appreciate help 
> gathering the info.