Structural evaluation of FRP Pultruded Sections in overhead transmission line Towers

Abstract

This paper presents experimental investigation carried out on modular X-braced panels of a transmission line tower made from FRP pultruded structural profiles subjected to transverse and vertical loading. The modular elements are light weight, can be easily assembled for structural support of an overhead transmission lines. The member stresses were monitored using strain gauges during full scale testing. Mathematical model of 3-Dimensional panel were generated using standard FEM software to study the analytical correlation with the experiments. The results from this study illustrates the light weight FRP structural profiles is an alternate sections to the conventional rolled steel angle sections used in power transmission line towers.