Monitoring Wind-Induced Vibrations/Stresses in a High Mast Lighting Tower (TR-518)

Principal Investigator:

Terry Wipf, tjwipf@iastate.edu (other projects)

Co-Principal Investigator:

• Brent Phares, bphares@iastate.edu (other projects)

Student Researchers:

• Byung-Ik Chang , cbi@iastate.edu

Other Authors: Byung-lK Chang

Project Status: In Progress

Start Date: 07/01/2004
End Date: 12/31/2005


Research Objective: The objective of this research is to collect long-term behavior information on the performance of one of the eight high-mast lighting towers in the I35/US18 interchange near Clear Lake, IA for the purpose of validating assumptions made by others in an analytical investigation of these and similar towers.

The research will consist of three primary tasks. Task 1 will be to design the long-term monitoring system needed to collect the required information. This system will include strain sensors, vibration sensors, wind speed sensors, and video recording equipment. The system will be designed such that data can be collected and transmitted remotely to all interested parties.

Task 2 will be to install and maintain the above system for a period of one year.

Task 3 will be to determine the natural frequencies and damping characteristics of about nine towers. This will be accomplished by installing a sensor on the towers and then vibrating the pole manually.

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