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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1
GENERAL
Overhead transmission lines play a significant role in the operation
Landscape / terrain
axial forces and the deformations are small. The members are designed based
on the prevailing codes of practice. Bearing type bolted connections are used
to connect the tower members with nominal bolts.
GROUND WIRE
PEAK
SINGLE LATTICE
BRACING
LONGTUDINAL LOAD
DUE TO CONDUCTOR
BREAKAGE
TOP CROSS
ARM
MIDDLE
CROSS ARM
WIND LOAD
FROM CONDUCTOR
VERTICAL LOAD
DUE TO CONDUCTOR
BOTTOM
CROSS ARM
SECONDARY
BRACING
X BRACED
PANEL
BELT
LEG
TOWER
EXTENSION
K BRACED PANEL
DETAIL A
HIP BRACING
weight is 50 to 60% and the main bracing member is about 20 to 30%. The
weight of secondary bracing member is in the order of 15 to 20%. The load
carrying capacity of the tower, not only depends on the individual member
capacity but, also on the joint detailing, uncertainties in framing eccentricities
of members, force fitting of members, unequal force distribution in bolts and
gusset plate connections, etc.
Proof testing of structures is essential to verify the engineering
aspects of the design process. The proof test demonstrates the efficiency of
the analysis procedures used in calculating the load effects from design loads,
the adequacy of the strength and the detailing of the structural components.
Full scale testing of towers provide an insight into the actual stress
distribution in unique tower configurations, force-fit verification, and action
of the structure in deflected positions, adequacy of connections and other
detailing. Generally, these tests are made on the prototype towers prior to the
manufacturing process or under certain conditions, these tests may also be
made as acceptance test for a batch of towers. In view of the above, most of
the power transmission tower industries all over the world have made proof
testing of transmission line towers mandatory. Study of test results gives an
insight into the behaviour of the system and it also helps in arriving at
appropriate remedial measures in the event of premature failure of towers.
Since towers are vital components of the transmission lines,
accurate prediction of their failure is very important for the reliability and
safety of the transmission system. When failure takes place, direct and
indirect losses are high, leaving aside other costs associated with power
disruption and litigation. The tower may fail due to the failure of any part or
as a consequence of foundation failure. Failure of tower during construction is
one of the common phenomena. Tower body can also fail due to excessive
tensile forces either during the stringing operation or during the life of the
tower due to increase in the tension in the conductor or earth wire. Stringing
accidents have also led to failure of towers. There is always a need to strike a
balance between the economy and reliability. Thus within a given constraint
of desired performance, it is possible to optimize the design. Stringent tests on
the towers increase the reliability of the detailing adopted and help in
optimising and verifying the design.
The data from full-scale tower tests were compared with the
predicted results using current techniques and concluded that the behaviour of
towers under complex loading condition cannot be consistently predicted
using the present techniques. Results from the Tower Testing Stations
reflected that around 23% of the towers failed before reaching 100% design
loads during testing and the location of failure were unpredicted. Further,
available test data showed considerable discrepancies between member forces
computed from linear elastic truss analysis and the measured values from fullscale tests.
In the Tower Testing and Research Station, Structural Engineering
Research Centre, Chennai, India, out of 157 towers tested so far, around
37 towers failed prematurely much earlier than predicted. There are many
deviations from the standard practice of structural design. Almost all the
Transmission line Towers are invariably fabricated with steel angle sections
with their joints being lapped and are spliced without considering the stresses
developed due to eccentricity in the connections since bracing members are
connected through one leg only. Moreover, economic considerations call for
taller and lighter structures that could support heavier conductors and use less
right of way. Therefore, a more refined analysis that could accurately simulate
transmission tower responses under different loading conditions is needed.
1.2
The joints are flexible due to the local deformation of the leg
of the angles under the concentrated bolt forces.
the designers. In practice, such assumption can hardly be met. The joints in
transmission tower are not hinged joints and main members such as legs
usually retain their continuities at joint which may cause bending moment,
torque and shear in member, thus producing additional stresses that are not
accounted for in the space truss analysis. Recently some of the designers have
moved to frame truss models. However modelling of joints in this case is only
a near accurate prediction. Only primary members such as legs and main
bracings are considered in the analysis. The secondary members which are
redundants are not included in the analysis.
10
11
SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION
The present investigation was planned with all the above factors in
b/t
ratios
by
conducting
experiments
and
12
To find the causes for all the above failures and to suggest
suitable revision in codal provisions.
1.4
13
summarises
the
conclusions
and
suggests