Lloyd,
Is there no methods to test the integrity of aluminum and aluminum towers? In
my special case the foundation of the tower is a 6 feet by 6 feet granite block
(about 8 " think. I just happen to have it around). The tower is suppose to be
self supporting with that base for wind up to 85 mph. I decided to add guy
wires to make sure it would tilt.
I wonder if I should loosen the guy wires, then stretch one and see if the
tower breaks somewhere. Sound dangerous to me. Is there any other method such a
looking at some type of magnetic eddy current response or similar? I know they
test airplanes for structure integrity on a regular basis. How do they do that?
I'm sure they don't put the plane in a jig and bend/flex it.
Any ideas about this?
Hans
-----Original Message-----
From: Lloyd Cabral <KH6LC@hotmail.com>
To: HansLG <HansLG@aol.com>
Sent: Sat, Jul 1, 2017 10:21 pm
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Fwd: Advice on Old TV Antenna Tower
Hans,
The best possible use of aluminum towers is to be recycled into aluminum
cans which can then be used to hold your favorite beverage.
The real problem with aluminum towers is undetectable fatigue. You can
inspect a steel tower section, check for rust and corrosion, jiggle it,
jump up and down on it, take a bolt out and look inside, get a fair idea of
it's condition. With aluminum, they all look fine. The problem
I've noticed with aluminum is there's no real indication of impending failure.
When they fail it's sudden and total failure. No bending, no
flexing, just BOOM, down. I don't trust them the same way I've never
trusted crankups. Yes, I've owned a few crankups and replaced them
as soon as I could afford it. Please be extra careful when working around
ageing aluminum towers. Load them lightly.
Vy 73 & Aloha,
Lloyd
www.KH6LC.com
From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces@contesting.com> on behalf of Hans
Hammarquist via TowerTalk <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 1, 2017 2:05:24 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Fwd: Advice on Old TV Antenna Tower
I was told that aluminum towers are more springy than steel towers. Mine is
an aluminum, guyed though. I still experience the vibration when I am in
between the ground and the guy point. Was very scary the first time I
climbed it but am use to it now.
I believe the "Q" value of aluminum is higher than steel. Therefore the
aluminum tower vibrate more than steel towers when you climb them.
Any takers?
Hans N2JFS
In a message dated 7/1/2017 1:37:30 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
john@kk9a.com writes:
My 60' Universal Aluminum tower used to move when I climbed it. It seemed
like a lot of movement but as Jim said it probably was not. I sort of got
use to the movement and never had an issue.
John KK9A
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