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Re: [TowerTalk] Guying a self-supporting tower

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Guying a self-supporting tower
From: Doug Renwick <ve5ra@sasktel.net>
Reply-to: ve5ra@sasktel.net
Date: Sat, 09 Apr 2005 14:49:23 -0600
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
We are finally getting a technical discussion on this topic.

K7LXC@aol.com wrote:

>     The big problem with guying self-supporting towers is that the guys have 
> the potential to increase the leg compression preload when properly 
> tensioned. 
> And as the leg capacity is the primary factor for tower strength, adding 
> additonal compressive force can lead to failure when a big windstorm blows 
> through 
> and the leg strength is exceeded. 
> 
Certainly leg compression will be increased with properly tensioned guys.
I have believed that tower failure (guys remain intact) will be caused by
torsion or twisting action on the tower, not by compression failure.  Someone
with actual failure experience should comment on this belief.

>     Delhi towers are sort of a special case. Yes, they're the classic BX 
> design and include straight sections along with the tapered ones and, yes, 
> the 
> manufacturer does say "Guy wires must be used for larger loads or if straight 
> sections are added". 

I do not believe that Delhi towers are a special case...they have cross arms
and three legs and can be tapered or straight like so many other designs.
They are not heavy weight sections, but they will take a lot of compressive
forces on the legs.

>     No other self-supporting tower or manufacturer makes that kind of a 
> statement or suggests guying the tower.

Can you provide the self supporting tower manufacturers that state their towers
are not to be guyed?  And can you provide supporting references?  And if there
are some that do say 'do not guy', I would be interested to find out why based
on engineering reasons.

> They're designed to be self-supporting and guying them goes against their
 > engineering and design.

Explain please how guying these towers 'goes against' their design and
engineering.  It's obvious that they are designed and engineered to be
self-supporting.  How does guying degrade their design?

-- 
Doug Renwick VA5DX
PO Box 50, Clavet, Saskatchewan, Canada S0K 0Y0
VE5RA@sasktel.net
First VE5 5BDXCC, 160M DXCC & 9BDXCC
What profit it a ham if he gains all the awards yet forfeits his soul?
I'll run the race and I will never be the same again.

_______________________________________________

See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather 
Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions 
and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.

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