Utility Pole - Push/Bracing Pole

[WickedJester]

Hey,

I am working on trying to model a push pole to replace a downguy for a utility pole, our design software is not capable of modeling a push pole. Initially I modeled it simply by determining the static forces that apply to the guy from the primary and neutral conductors and then determining the static forces that would apply to a push pole in the opposite configuration to the down guy. From that I determined that the forces are very similar for both the guy and push pole.

I would like to model the push pole configuration better, i.e. determine if the push pole will support the shear, buckling, and bearing forces applied to it. So I am asking what would you recommend as a good approach to modeling such a structure?

Thanks in advanced!

 

[racookpe1978]

Buckling forces on the the thin but long "push poles" are going to be limiting.

Look at the very thin "push bars" as they are used on transmission towers: The thin side braces need themselves to be supported at their mid-points by additional thin side braces, which are then tied at the midpoint by another thin brace. The result, when you stand back and "Eiffel Tower" the whole, becomes a stable structure.

Tension wires are used because they are stable in tension. But only in tension of course.

 

[jec67]

My understanding of your post is you are replacing the guy on one side of the pole with a sloping pole (push pole) on the side directly opposite the guy. In that case and assuming the same angle (guy to vertical pole = push pole to vertical pole), then your forces in the push pole would be equal to the guy force but oppoioste in direction (compression instead of tension).

It sounds as if you need to now check the possible failure modes of the new configuration, correct? If that is the case, it is not a simple modeling of the structure. You need to check each mode (some of which can be handled in a model). When it comes to connection checks, you need to look at (or lay out) the details of the connection. Then you will need to check the failure modes within the conncection: bolt shear, bearing at the bolt holes, localized stresses at the connection, etc. to name a few.