Chapter 32

Modal Analysis of Transmission Line Cables

Nilson Barbieri, Marcos José Mannala, Renato Barbieri, Mayara Kelly Tenório Calado,
and Gabriel de Sant’Anna Vitor Barbieri

Abstract The objective of this work is validate a mathematical model (Finite Element Method) for dynamic simulation
of transmission lines cables to different mechanical loads. For better electrical and structural purposes were tested three
different types of new cables available on the market, Tern (CAA), 1120 and 6201 (alloy) with variable mechanical loads
(between 15 and 35% of rupture stress). The dynamic tests were performed on a test bench of transmission line components
using an impact hammer system for excitation and five accelerometers to obtain the vibrational data. The dynamic tests used
samples with 35 and 54 m long with different mechanical tensile loads. Mathematical models (linear and nonlinear) obtained
by the Finite Element Method were used to obtain the corresponding numerical modal data. The results showed that the
linear model has great errors when the cable is large and low mechanical traction were used (errors in the order of 16%). The
nonlinear model shows better agreement between the numerical and experimental results (errors in the order of 2.5%).The
numerical results obtained using the non-linear model showed good agreement with experimental data for all the mechanical
tensile variation range used and for three different types of cable.

Keywords Transmission line cable • Modal analysis • FEM • Nonlinear model

32.1 Introduction

The dynamics of electric transmission line cables has been studied for many years, because the induced mechanical vibrations
can cause damage not only to the cables, but also the structures and accessories installed on the lines. These vibrations can
oscillate structures and components and are most commonly induced by the wind. The main consequence is the appearance
of damage by fatigue of the aluminium wires, often in preceding points to their insertions in the suspension brackets or anchor
due to the additional alternating voltages to those provided for in the project. Thus, the useful life of the line is related to the
vibrations and the level of its amplitude and frequency. In conventional transmission lines, one or more Stockbridge dampers
are installed on the conductor in order to minimize the amplitudes of vibrations caused by wind. This problem has been
studied in various parts of the world with solutions and applications of the most varied possible. This has allowed the increase
in the size of the cables and the mechanical loading of these lines with a consequent increase in energy transportation and
life of drivers and accessories. Therefore, it is also considered, the constant need to improve the design tools, simulation and
validation of computational models [1–3], aimed in the first instance, the reduction of costs of new projects and operational
changes in existing lines.

N. Barbieri ()
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Mecânica, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR), Curitiba, Brazil
Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
e-mail: nilson.barbieri@pucpr.br
M.J. Mannala
Institutos LACTEC, Curitiba, Brazil
R. Barbieri
Faculdade de Engenharia de Joinville-FEJ, Joinville, Brazil
M.K.T. Calado • G. de Sant’Anna Vitor Barbieri
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Mecânica, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR), Curitiba, Brazil

© The Society for Experimental Mechanics, Inc. 2017 367

M.S. Allen et al. (eds.), Dynamics of Coupled Structures, Volume 4, Conference Proceedings of the Society
for Experimental Mechanics Series, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-54930-9_32
368 N.J. Mannala et al.

32.2 Results

Figure 32.1 gives an overview of the bench used for modal testing. In the figure is shown a cable with a Stockbridge damper
attached in the same.
The sensors used to obtain the vibrational data for the three types of cables are accelerometers PCB model 352C33
and 338C04. The external force was applied by impact hammer PCBI 291M55 at a distance of 0.5 m from the end. The
accelerometers were placed at positions L/16, L/8, L/4, 3L/8 and L/2 in the sample of length L. The rational fraction
polynomial method (RFPM) is used to experimental modal analysis. Figure 32.2 shows the curves of variation of the natural
frequency of the first five vibration modes with respect to the cable mechanical tensile load. As expected, the values of the
natural frequencies increase with increasing tensile load. The increases are higher for higher modes.
Figure 32.3 shows variations of frequencies of the first five modes obtained experimentally by linear numerical model and
non-linear numerical model. It can be seen that the first mode presents some differences at low tensile loads. The differences
are more pronounced using the linear model.

Fig. 32.1 Transmission line cable test bench

8
mode 1
mode 2
7
mode 3
mode 4
6
mode 5
Frequency (Hz)

11 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4

Force(N) ´ 104

Fig. 32.2 Variation of natural frequencies with mechanical tensile load

32 Modal Analysis of Transmission Line Cables 369

Frequency (Hz)
5

0
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
Force(N)
x 104

Fig. 32.3 Variation of natural frequencies with mechanical tensile load (* experimental data;  nonlinear FEM model; ı linear FEM model)

-2

-4
Percentage error

mode 1
-6 mode 2
-8 mode 3
mode 4
-10 mode 5
-12

-14

-16

-18
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
Force (N)
x 104

Fig. 32.4 Variation of natural frequencies using linear numerical model

Figure 32.4 shows the percentage error of the values of natural frequencies of the first five modes of vibration taking into
account the numerical values obtained by linear model. The experimental values were considered as reference values. It is
noted errors in the order of 16% for the first vibrate mode at low loads of mechanical traction and with increasing mechanical
load the errors decrease.
Figure 32.5 shows the percentage error obtained using non-linear numerical model. Note in this case that the maximum
error is of the order of 0.8%, ie the non-linear model has a much better fit to the linear model.
The results shown in Figs. 32.2, 32.3, 32.4, and 32.5 refer to TERN CAA cable. The results for the other two cables
maintained the same behavior with variations in the errors between the experimental and numerical values.

32.3 Conclusions

In this work, it was noted that the linear model for dynamic analysis conductor cable provides good results only for high
mechanical cable loads, which is not commonly used in practice. The linear model also shows good results for small samples
length.
370 N.J. Mannala et al.

0.4
mode 1
0.2 mode 2
mode 3
mode 4
0
mode 5

Percentage error -0.2

-0.4

-0.6

-0.8

-1
1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
Force (N)
x 104

Fig. 32.5 Variation of natural frequencies using nonlinear numerical model

For samples of great length (over 30 m) nonlinear model presents better results than linear models mainly for low
mechanical loads. This fact is evidenced by analyzing the behavior of first vibration mode.
We used three different cables for dynamic analysis and it was noted that the largest percentage error of the numerical
values of the natural frequency of the first vibrate mode using non-linear models was around 2.5% for low mechanical loads
and the error for the linear model was in order of 16%.

References

1. Barbieri, N., Souza Jr., O. H., Barbieri, R.: Dynamical analysis of transmission line cables. Part 1 – linear theory. Mech. Syst. Signal Process.
18(3), 659–669 (2004)
2. Barbieri, N., Souza Jr., O. H., Barbieri, R.: Dynamical analysis of transmission line cables. Part 2 – damping estimation. Mech. Syst. Signal
Process. 18(3), 671–681 (2004)
3. Barbieri, N., Souza Jr., O. H., Barbieri, R.: Dynamical analysis of transmission line cables. Part 3 – nonlinear theory. Mech. Syst. Signal Process.
22, 992–1007 (2008)