[TowerTalk] comparing top section of crankup to

Steve, W3AHL w3ahl at att.net
Sun Mar 21 06:30:00 PDT 2010


Kevin,

Without seeing the full report, I can't answer  your specific issues, but I would accept the analysis as valid for the standards used at the time.  

It appears that the tower's wind load is limited by the moment at the base, if the base F.S.=0.98 and top F.S. is <0.5.  Therefore using the Equivalent Moment method of determining what the allowable antenna projected area is on a mast extending above the top of the tower stub is appropriate.  This is consistent with Travanty's article and the ARRL Antenna book methods in chapter 22.

Regarding analyzing allowable mast loads using a spreadsheet, you misinterpret what my point was.  There is nothing wrong with electrical resistance welding of seams in pipe or tubing, if the process & material  complies with the specification required for the application.  The only testing done on A53 Type E Grade B 2" pipe is typically a hydrostatic pressure test, which is not adequate for structural use.  There is no test to determine if the weld seam yield strength is the same as the rest of the pipe.  Larger sizes of A53 require NDT and ductility testing to verify the weld seam is as strong as the base pipe material.  Therefore standard stress analysis formulas are valid for predicting how the material will respond to structural loading.   

I haven't found a good reference book that would serve as a tutorial on tower design and stress analysis for those without mechanical engineering degrees.  There are many good engineering and materials texts at university libraries, but none that detail the specific issues with antenna supports.  The TIA RS-222-C, -F and -G standards are worth reading.  The current -G version is less straightforward than earlier versions and costs $600.   Check your nearest university engineering library for a copy.

Steve, W3AHL

Date: Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:02:58 -0700
From: Kevin Normoyle <knormoyle at surfnetusa.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] comparing top section of crankup to unsupported
To: "Tower and HF antenna construction topics."
<towertalk at contesting.com>

..snip...
For the top section this results in F'a/fa = 2.49
My reading is that means a 2.49 safety factor, for that assumed antenna 
load.
The same safety factor appears to be only 0.98 (which they take to be 
one. ...i.e. they see fa of 33,350 psi in the bottommost base legs (and 
F'a  allowed of 32,530 psi)

..snip..

On the mast thing: it sounds like the spreadsheet stuff is worthless, 
because we can't just analyze using yield strength. The manufacturing 
process is important (although I've never seen a photo of a split weld). 
The mast spreadsheets then are only good for some set of manufacturing 
processes. (and it's not just about electric resistance welding or 
not...I thought a lot of DOM starts out as ERW?)

..snip..

-kevin
AD6Z


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