TRANSMISSION TOWERS DESIGN

Code of practice for foundation - BS 8004

Code of practice for concrete - BS 8110

Code of practice for latticed tower - ASCE 10-97 / ANSI

GEOMETRY DESIGN OF TRANSMISSION TOWERS

 Peak of transmission tower

 Cross arm of transmission tower
 Boom of transmission tower
 Cage of transmission tower
 Transmission Tower Body
 Leg of transmission tower
 Stub/Anchor Bolt and Base plate assembly of transmission tower.

Peak of Transmission Tower

The portion above the top cross arm is called peak of transmission tower. Generally earth
shield wire connected to the tip of this peak.

Cross Arm of Transmission Tower

Cross arms of transmission tower hold the transmission conductor. The dimension of cross
arm depends on the level of transmission voltage, configuration and minimum forming angle
for stress distribution.

Cage of Transmission Tower

The portion between tower body and peak is known as cage of transmission tower. This
portion of the tower holds the cross arms.

Transmission Tower Body

The portion from bottom cross arms up to the ground level is called transmission tower body.
This portion of the tower plays a vital role for maintaining required ground clearance of the
bottom conductor of the transmission line.
To determine the actual transmission tower height by considering the above points, we have
divided the total height of tower in four parts,

 Minimum permissible ground clearance (H1)

 Maximum sag of the conductor (H2)
 Vertical spacing between top and bottom conductors (H3)
 Vertical clearance between ground wire and top conductor (H4).
 Length
Specification for 132 kV
(m)
Minimum clearance from conductor to ground 6.7
Metal Clad or Roofed Building, or other building or Structures upon
4.1
which a man may stand
To earthed cradle Guard Wires 4
To Electric power line wires (Line to Earth) 3.7
To be added to the above Clearance to Allow for Survey and sagging
0.3
error
Minimum horizontal spacing between outermost conductors of
15.3
adjacent power line in still air
Spacing between P + T line and cradle guard 1.8

Loading and Temperature

Minimum temperature

Everyday temperature

Maximum temperature

The stress increase while temperature increase, why?

DESIGN SPANS

1. Basic span

The term basic span means the horizontal distance between the centres of adjacent supports
on level ground. The height of conductor clearance to the ground is decided based on this
length.

2. Wind span

The term wind span mean half the sum of adjacent horizontal spans lengths supported on any
one tower. The wind force on cables is calculated based on this length. Further this length can
vary depend on support type and loading type (Normal working / Brocken wire).

3. Weight span

The term weight span mean the equivalent length of the weight of conductor supported at any
one tower at minimum temperature in still air. The maximum and minimum (can be negative)
weight of conductor is calculated based on this span. Further this length can vary depend on
support type and loading type (Normal working / Brocken wire).
APPLICATION OF LOAD ON TOWER

The loading on transmission towers can be divided in to threecategories.

1. Load on Cross arm

2. Dead Load ofTower
3. Wind Load on Tower

1. Load on Cross arm

The loads come from cables in vertical, transverse and longitudinal directions are included in
this category. The loading method is depending on tower type and normal working or broken
wire condition. The broken wire condition means simulation of conductor broken or earth
wire broken.

Normal working condition

Transverse load from Wind load Diameter x wind span x wind pressure
𝛳
earth wire Angle pull 2 x Maximum working tension x Sin[ 2 ]

Weight of earth wire

Unit weight x Weight span (Max)
(Max)
Vertical load from Weight of earth wire
Unit weight x Weight span (Min)
earth wire (Min)
Weight of lineman 155 x 9.81
and clamp 1000

Longitudinal load from

Earth wire tension 1 x maximum working tension x 0.15
earth wire

The similar loading can be used to broken wire condition with following modification

 The corresponding span must be broken wire spans

 Longitudinal force will be 1.0 time maximum working tension

Normal working condition

Wind load on
Diameter x wind span x wind pressure
conductor
Transverse load from Wind load on
conductor 0.5 x length x diameter x wind pressure
insulator
𝛳
Angle pull 2 x Maximum working tension x Sin[ 2 ]

Weight of earth wire

Unit weight x Weight span (Max)
(Max)
vertical load from Weight of earth wire
Unit weight x Weight span (Min)
conductor (Min)
Weight of lineman 155 x 9.81
and clamp 1000
 Weight of insulator
assembly

Longitudinal load from

Earth wire tension 1 x maximum working tension x 0.15
conductor

The similar loading can be used to broken wire condition with following modification

 The corresponding span must be broken wire spans

 Longitudinal force will be 0.7time maximum working tension

Note - The designer must follow the specification to find the loading arrangement to
different type of Transmission Tower.

2. Dead Load of Tower

The dead load of Transmission Tower can be automatically added from software.

3. Wind Load on Tower

The wind load on tower can be found using following equation

Wind load = 1.5 x Projection area x Wind pressure

TYPES OF TRANSMISSION TOWERS

 Suspension towers - TDL

 0o - 10o and section towers - TD1
 10o - 30oangle towers - TD3
 30o - 60oangle towers - TD6
 Terminal towers - TDT

Apart from the above customized type of tower, the tower is designed to meet special usages
listed below. These are called special type tower

 River crossing tower

 Railway/ Highway crossing tower
 Transposition tower

Based on numbers of circuits carried by a transmission tower, it can be classified as following

 Single circuit tower

 Double circuit tower
 Multi circuit tower
Arcing horn

Jumper loop

Jumper suspension insulator

Foundation design

Foundation types

Rock Anchor

Concrete pad and chimney

Piling

SOIL CLASSIFICATION FOR FOUNDATION DESIGN

Name Soil type

S1 Homogeneous Rock
S2 Fractured rock / dense sand and Gravel
Medium dense gravel / Medium dense gravel with sand / Compact sand
S3
/ Very stiff to stiff clay / Hard clay
S4 Loose sand and gravel / Medium dense sand / Stiff clay / Firm clay
S4A-water logged Loose sand and gravel / Medium dense sand / Stiff clay / Firm clay
S5 Soft clay, Silt / Loose sand
S5A-water logged Soft clay, Silt / Loose sand
S6 Very soft clays and silts / Peat and organic soils / Made ground or fill
 S7 Alternative

ASSUMED NORMAL WORKING LOADING ON TOWERS

1. Suspension Tower - TDL

Vertical loading

 Weight of insulators
 Weight of all fittings
 Weight of earth conductors and conductors

Transverse loading

 Wind pressure right angle to the lines on projected area - 970 N/m2
 Wind pressure on 1.5 times the projected area of the member of one face of the tower
- 1640 N/m2

2. Angle Towers - TD3 & TD6

Broken wire condition

Factor of safety of towers

PLS CADD