Introduction

This chapter presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book. The book provides structural design guidance and a comprehensive resource for outdoor electrical substation structures and foundations. It also provides an overview of electrical equipment, identifies the various components and structure types, and describes structure configurations. The book presents recommended load factors and load combinations. In addition, recommended deflection limits and structure classes are defined. The book discusses analysis techniques and structural modeling concepts as they relate to substation structures. Both static and dynamic analyses are covered. Guidelines are given for selecting the appropriate analysis method for different structural behaviors such as large versus small displacement theory and nonlinear analysis. The book lists design standards for various materials of construction and considerations for the design of rigid buses, insulators, base plates, structural connections, and other special considerations that include but are not limited to wind and seismic loading.