Behavior of Monotube Highway Sign Support Structures
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 114, Issue 12
Abstract
The design of highway sign support structures is governed by the AASHTO Specifications which limit the dead load deflection of the beam to where d is the depth of the traffic sign in feet. In many cases, the more slender monotube sign support structures, which have become more popular in recent years, can not satisfy this deflection criterion. The results of a parametric study of monotube highway sign support structures are presented in this paper. Structures with various column and beam stiffnesses, spans, area and location of traffic signs were analyzed for static and dynamic (wind) loads. Vortex shedding is a prime consideration for such structures; this was accounted for in the dynamic analysis. It was found that stress levels are well below the allowable values, although the deflections exceeded the AASHTO criterion by significant margins. It was also concluded that for typical structures, resonance was not a likely occurrence. Recommendations are made for the analysis and design procedures.
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References
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 114 • Issue 12 • December 1988
Pages: 2755 - 2772
Copyright
Copyright © 1988 ASCE.
History
Published online: Dec 1, 1988
Published in print: Dec 1988
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