Development of a Fatigue Design Load for High-Mast Lighting Towers
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 145, Issue 1
Abstract
Fatigue cracking has caused a number of high-mast lighting tower (HMLT) failures throughout the United States. Both buffeting and vortex shedding have been shown to contribute to the failures observed. To increase HMLT safety, an investigation of the loading spectrum and response was conducted. The study included multiple goals; the primary deliverable was the development of a rational wind load for the fatigue design of HMLTs. Long-term remote monitoring was used to collect wind and strain data from 11 HMLTs distributed throughout the United States over the course of 2 years in order to investigate the effects of buffeting, vortex shedding, and associated dynamic oscillations. Data obtained from the field monitoring led to the development of a notional load model for HMLT fatigue design. The combined wind effect concept for fatigue design, which accounts for the effects of a variety of wind-induced loads, is introduced. Results from the research have been implemented into current design practice.
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Acknowledgments
The work presented above was sponsored by NCHRP Project 10-74. The authors wish to thank Mr. Allen DeSchepper, previous Purdue University Graduate Research Assistant, and Mr. Joe Mueller, previous Purdue University Field and Laboratory Engineering Technician, for their work during the research study.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 145 • Issue 1 • January 2019
Copyright
©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 29, 2017
Accepted: Jun 28, 2018
Published online: Oct 26, 2018
Published in print: Jan 1, 2019
Discussion open until: Mar 26, 2019
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