Suspension line insulators are during their operation subject to static forces and variable loads, usually of a cyclic character. These variable loads have a significant impact on the mechanical durability of composite insulators. A method of providing durability forecast for composite line insulators based on fatigue characteristics has been proposed. The method allows providing durability forecast of insulators in a wide range of variable loadings, i.e. from quasi-static to high amplitude loadings.

This paper describes results of tensile mechanical strength testing of two types of composite suspension line insulators from two manufacturers. In order to take into account the operation of composite insulators in overhead transmission lines with high-temperature low-sag (HTLS) conductors, the testing of their static and fatigue strength was performed at both ambient and elevated temperatures. The results showed that the static mechanical strength of composite insulators decreased with an increase in the temperature of the lower end fitting of the insulator, and proved that it followed a third-degree polynomial function. Calculations performed demonstrated that a significant cause of reduction in strength was the increase in the radial stress following the temperature increase in the crimped glassepoxy resin core of the insulator. The results of the fatigue strength testing demonstrated that the increase in the temperature of the lower end fitting of the insulator up to 85°C degree had a little effect on the fatigue strength of the tested composite insulators.