Journal of Sound and Vibration (1978)60(4), 604-606

TRANSMISSION LINE VIBRATION WITH 4R DAMPERS

1. INTRODUCTION
The aeolian vibrations in transmission lines may be suppressed to safe levels by the use of
damping devices such as Stockbridge dampers of 2R and 4R type. The damper characteristics
are important parameters in controlling the transmission line vibration. A 2R damper
consists of two identical masses fixed at equal distances on either side of the point of attach-
ment. The moment exerted by one mass is neutralized by that from the other (see Figure 1)

Figure 1. 2R damper.

whereas a 4 R d a m p e r exerts a resultant moment on the cable. Usually transmission of only

the vertical force by a 2R damper to the cable is considered [I, 2]. In reference [3] the moment
exerted by a 2R damper even when its clamp axis is not vertical is shown to be so insignificant
as to have practically no influence on cable displacement and slope. In the present analysis
it is shown that the moment exerted by a 4R damper may have a considerable effect on the
transmission line vibration.

~ ----t 2-----~ tm

Figure 2. 4R damper. Fa :~ Fn; M a :fi ?,In.

2. ANALYSIS

The dynamic response of a cable subjectcd to a momcnt can be studied by extending the
procedure given in reference [1 ], using the approach suggested in reference [4].
For two dampers in the span of cable,

2 ~ 1 (fLc nnXo nn nnx~

u ( x ' t ) = - - ~ .t lc[---2+ Lc + M , - -Lc
cos L,
nnx b nn nn__n_xb~) M - iN nnx
+ F~sin - - ~ + Mb L---~cos Lr J M 2 + N sin L'-"~sin f2t,
---------5 (1)

where u(x,t) is the transverse displacement of the cable, Lc is the length of the cable, F~
and Fb are the forces at the damper locations, M~ and Mb are the moments at the damper
locations, EJ is the cable stiffness, M = 1 - (f2z/co]), co, is the natural frequency (rad/s),
S is the tension in the cable, s is the forcing frequency,f is the wind force, h, is the damping
index (the hysteretic damping coefficient of the cable), N = h,/k, ct, = (EJ/SL~)nc, and
k = (Sn2n2/L2)(l + ct2). It is evident that the orientation of the dampers on the cable may
affect the cable response. With symmetric orientation of the dampers as shown in Figure
604
 LETTERSTO TIlE EDITOR 605

Im . _- 1~ _-i

h >l
(o)

(b)
Figure 3. (a) Symmetric force and moment; (b) symmetric force and asymmetric moment.

3(a) the cable response will be symmetric and the analysis is carried out for this system only.
F o r this case u(xo, t) = u(xo, t) and hence equation (1) reduces to

u(x,t) =~--~ , _ t ~" +2Fosin Lc + 2 M , Lc--cos Lc J M

2-+N 2 sin~.Lc

For a 4R damper the values of Fo, Fb, etc., can be evaluated by following the procedure
given in reference [5].

3. RESULTSAND CONCLUSIONS
The aim ofthis investigation is to show the effect ofthe damper moment on cable vibration.
Table 1 gives the displacements at the damper location for different frequencies. The same
table shows the values of the displacements obtained when only the force exerted by the
damper, and not the moment, is taken into account. It is seen from the table that the moment

TABLE 1
Displacement at damper locatio)t andmaxhnum displacement with and without moment

Displacement at damper
9location (x 10-4) Maximum displacement (x 10-4)
Frequency , A , A
(Hz) Without moment with moment Without moment With moment

7"46 0"886 (0"64) 0"901 (0"64) 1"370 1"390

9"24 1"010 (0"63) 0'968 (0-62) 1-610 1-550
11"03 1"620 (0"77) 1"800 (0"81) 2"100 2"220
12"83 1-060 (0"81) 1"140 (0"81) 1"300 1"280
14"63 0"774 (0-76) 0"821 (0'87) 1"020 0.943
16"44 0"577 (0"61) 0"605 (0-77) 0"938 0-788
18"26 0'416 (0"46) 0"431 (0-56) 0"897 0"782
20-08 0"276 (0"31) 0"283 (0.27) 0"889 1"040
21"93 0-201 (0"19) 0"200 (0-15) 1-030 1-350
23~78 0-327 (0"24) 0"320 (0"17) 1"340 1"800
25"64 0-649 (0"38) 0'607 (0-24) 1"720 2"440
27"52 1-030 (0"37) 0"948 (0-32) 2"790 3"070
29"41 0'844 (0"27) 0"880 (0"26) 3-140 3"410
31-32 0"587 (0"14) 0"644 (0"14) 4"080 4"560
Norm~lizcd values are shown in brackets ().
606 LETTERSTO TIIE EDITOR
TABLE 2
Slope at damper location with and without damper moment

Slope at damper location (x 10-6)

A
r

Without moment With moment

Frequency c ~ - ".
(Hz) At left At right At left At right

7.46 0"223 0.223 0"227 0"227

9"24 0.254 0"253 0"239 0"239
11"03 0.359 0"358 0"371 0-369
12.83 0"225 0.224 0.195 0"194
14-63 0.214 0.214 0.154 0.153
16.44 0"281 0"280 0.186 0.186
18.26 0.403 0"404 0-273 0-272
20.08 0.519 0"520 0.370 0.370
21.93 0.236 0"246 0.218 0"222
23"78 ---0.513 -0"503 -0"245 -0"240
25.64 -0.850 -0'844 ---0"370 -0"365
27"52 -0"638 -0"631 ---0-073 -0'067
29"41 -0.044 -0'034 0-283 0"294
31-32 -0.587 -0"567 -0'615 ---0"591

contributed by a 4R d a m p e r has a p r o f o u n d effect on the cable response, especially at some

frequencies. This is not true o f 2R dampers [3]. It is thus seen that the m o m e n t contribution
o f a 4R damper must be taken into consideration. In analysis o f transmission line vibration
by power balance the square o f the ratio o f the cable displacement at the damper location
to the m a x i m u m displacement is the significant parameter and in this case the differences
m a y be higher. The cable slopes for both 2R and 4R dampers are shown in Table 2 and it
is seen that the slopes o f t h e cable entering and leaving the damper are more or less the same.
Department of ,4pplied Mechanics, M . S . DIIOTARAD
btdian Institute of Technology, N. GANESAN
Aladras-600036, India B . V . A . RAO
(Received 14 June 1978)

REFERENCES
I. R. CLARENand G. DIANA 1969 Institttte of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Transactions on
Power Apparatus Systems 88, 1741-1771. Mathematical analysis of transmission line vibrations.
2. J. G. ALLNtrrr and M. ROWBETTON 1974 Proceedings of the histitution of Electrical Enghzeers
121, 1175-1179. Damping of aeolian vibration on overhead lines by vibration dampers.
3. M. S. DiIOTARAD,N. GANESANand B. V. A. RAO 1978 JournalofSoundand Vibration 60,217-237.
Transmission line vibrations.
4. W. T. THOXtSON1975 Theory of Vibration and .4pplications. New Delhi: Prentice Hall of India
Pvt. Limited.
5. H. WAGNER, V. RAMAMUR'I'I,R. V. R. SASTRYand K. HARTMANN 1972 Journal of Sound and
Vibration 30, 207-220. Dynamics of Stockbridge dampers.