[TowerTalk] Is A Tower Weaker in Some Directions?

[Charlie Gallo]

On 10/5/2014 Gene Smar wrote:

>      Now consider the case when the wind is from the single leg side of the
> tower and towards the opposite face.  The single windward leg will be in
> tension and the two opposite legs will be in compression.  Unlike the first
> example with the wind applied on the face, the two leeward legs of the tower
> resist the downward force from the wind with twice the counteracting force
> of a single leg.  To get this tower's two legs to buckle will require twice
> the wind force on the opposite leg vs the single leg example above.

Of  course  this  assumes  the  failure  mode  is due to a compression
failure.   As others have said, there is a significant torsion mode of
failure,  and at least in theory the leg COULD fail in tension, so say
that single up wind leg could fail as it is pulled apart

-- 
73 de KG2V - Charles Gallo
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