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).

Specification for 132 kV

Minimum clearance from conductor to ground
Metal Clad or Roofed Building, or other building or Structures upon
which a man may stand
To earthed cradle Guard Wires
To Electric power line wires (Line to Earth)
To be added to the above Clearance to Allow for Survey and sagging
error
Minimum horizontal spacing between outermost conductors of
adjacent power line in still air
Spacing between P + T line and cradle guard

Loading and Temperature

Minimum temperature
Everyday temperature
Maximum temperature
The stress increase while temperature increase, why?

Length
(m)
6.7
4.1
4
3.7
0.3
15.3
1.8

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 three categories.
1. Load on Cross arm
2. Dead Load of Tower
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.

Transverse load from

earth wire

Transverse load from

earth wire

Normal working condition

Wind load
Diameter x wind span x wind pressure
2 x Maximum working tension x Sin
Angle pull

Weight of earth wire

(Max)
Weight of earth wire
(Min)

[ ]

Unit weight x Weight span (Max)

Unit weight x Weight span (Min)

Longitudinal load from

earth wire

Weight of lineman and

clamp

155 x 9.81
1000

Earth wire tension

1 x maximum working tension x 0.15

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

Transverse load from

conductor

Normal working condition

Wind load on
Diameter x wind span x wind pressure
conductor
Wind load on
0.5 x length x diameter x wind pressure
insulator
2 x Maximum working tension x Sin

[ ]

Angle pull

Transverse load from

conductor

Weight of earth wire

(Max)
Weight of earth wire
(Min)
Weight of lineman and
clamp

Unit weight x Weight span (Max)

Unit weight x Weight span (Min)
155 x 9.81
1000

Weight of insulator
assembly
Longitudinal load from
conductor

Earth wire tension

1 x maximum working tension x 0.15

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 0.7 time 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 - 30o angle towers - TD3
30o - 60o angle 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
S1
S2
S3
S4
S4A-water logged
S5
S5A-water logged
S6
S7

Soil type
Homogeneous Rock
Fractured rock / dense sand and Gravel
Medium dense gravel / Medium dense gravel with sand / Compact sand
/ Very stiff to stiff clay / Hard clay
Loose sand and gravel / Medium dense sand / Stiff clay / Firm clay
Loose sand and gravel / Medium dense sand / Stiff clay / Firm clay
Soft clay, Silt / Loose sand
Soft clay, Silt / Loose sand
Very soft clays and silts / Peat and organic soils / Made ground or fill
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