OVERHEAD LINE GALLOPING.

FIELD EXPERIENCE DURING ONE EVENT IN BELGIUM ON LAST FEBRUARY

13TH, 1997

J.L. Lilien (1), M. Erpicum (2) and M. Wolfs (3)

(1) University of Liège, Transmission of Electrical Energy, Belgium

(2) University of Liège, Climatology, Belgium
(3) Laborelec, Belgium

Abstract
A recorded galloping occurred last winter in the Belgium test
station on February 13th, 1997. This paper details the
observation and corresponding measurements. Comparative
simulations are also detailed so that a clear explanation of the
phenomena is detailed. Efficiency of some anti-gallopng
devices is also detailed.
Keywords.
overhead lines, galloping, measurement, control devices.
1. Introduction
Galloping is a main problem for overhead lines in some
climatic conditions[2]. Phase-to-phase flashovers as well as
high dynamic stress on towers may lead to power arcs,
damages to hardware, tower steelwork, fatigue of
conductors, tension strings and jumpers. Galloping is deeply
investigated in Belgium for many years, in collaboration
between university and network utility.
The recorded event occurred on a dead-end span (380 kV
Belgium grid) equipped with many different kinds of phases
arrangement (twin, tripple, with and without anti-galloping
devices).
Strain gages for tension measurement were located between
anchoring insulators and tower.
Wind speed were measured in details by climatology
department of the University of Liège.(including turbulence
intensity).
Galloping lasted for several hours in the morning and in the
afternoon of February 13th, 1997. Large amplitudes (one loop
mode) , up to the sag, were visually observed.
Compared to the reference twin bundle phase, the galloping
on the span equipped with anti-galloping devices was
sensibly reduced (up to 80% reduction in some cases)
Simulation points out that the galloping was a coupled
vertical-torsional mode[5] and not a Den-Hartog[1] one, with
the presence of two and one loop modes, with a dominant
one loop.
Both measurement and simulation certify the good behaviour
of anti-galloping « TDD »[6] as designed for that line.
2. Structural data
2.1 phase arrangement
span length (dead-ended) : 308 m
• One phase equipped with tripple conductor
• One phase equipped with twin horizontal conductor,
spacered (reference phase)
• One phase equipped with twin horizontal conductors,
with pendulum[4] (4 pendulum of 23 kg)
• One phase equipped with twin horizontal conductor, with
TDD[6] (3 TDD of 33 kg)
2.2 conductor and bundle data
• conductor : 620 mm2 AMS (diameter 32.4 mm, mass 1.8
kg/m, torsional stiffness 300 to 400 Nm2/rad)
• subconductor spacing : 0.45 m Fig.1 Turbulence intensity measured by climatologic
• 6 spacers (with little eccentric massa) department during all the day of February 13th,
• tension at 0°C /subconductor (no wind, no ice) : 1997. Abscissa in GMT+1, given in minutes.
36 kN (sag approximately 6 m)

3.Observations
Fig. 1 and 2 gave informations about meteorological datas
during the day of the galloping event :
wind speed range : 4 to 14 m/s, perpendicular to the test line
with a turbulence intensity close to 25%. It must be noticed
that a vertical wind speed has also been measured in the
range 0 to 0.8 m/s during galloping events.
Rime started suddently, when temperature was going down
through 0°C (about). Icing rain were mentioned in the nearest
meteorological station between 7 and 9 a.m. GMT with slight
positive temperature. Similar rain in the afternoon between
11:30 and 5:00 p.m. GMT with slightly negative temperature.
Icing rain events were simultaneous with strong wind.

Fig. 2 Mean wind speed (every minutes) measured by

climatologic department during all the day of
February 13th, 1997. Abscissa in GMT+1, given
in minutes.

Unfortunately, no video was taken, but observers noticed
very high amplitude (larger than the sag ?). Galloping lasted
for several hours in the morning and in the afternoon of
February 13th, 1997. Despite large amplitudes, no short-
circuit were re ported, nor any damage. Large amplitude were
only seen on our test dead-end span, no other lines in the
vicinity seemed to gallop. The dead-end test span was
located near angle towers.
• tripple bundle : 40 kN/ insulator chain (means tower load
80 kN peak-to peak)
• twin bundle with pendulums : 17 kN (efficiency (25-17)/25
= 32%)
• twin bundle with TDD : 5 kN (efficiency (25-5)/25 = 80%)

3.1 First case 3.2 Second case

Around 10h30 GMT (real time 12h30) (fig. 3). Means abscissa
710 minutes on fig. 1 and 2, thus wind speed in the range 9 to
13 m/s.
• reference phase with twin conductors : 25 kN
variation/subcond. (means tower load 50 kN peak-to-
peak)
Around 12h40 GMT (no figure reproduced here). Means
abscissa 830 minutes on fig. 1 and 2, thus also wind speed in
the range 9 to 13 m/s
• reference phase with twin conductors : 40 kN
variation/subcond. (means tower load 80 kN peak-to-
peak)
• tripple bundle : 75 kN/ insulator chain (means tower load
150 kN peak-to peak)
• twin bundle with pendulums : 30 kN (efficiency (40-30)/40
= 25%)
• twin bundle with TDD : 10 kN (efficiency (40-10)/40 =
75%)
The second event has been analysed to evaluate power
density in each signal over 200 seconds around 12h35.
The recorded frequencies in which power density is the
highest are near 0.32 Hz and 0.34 Hz.
Visual observers detailed mainly a one loop mode
These events of galloping (probably due to icing rain)
caused strong tension variation (up to 200% of sagging
tension as measured peak-to-peak). The observed event
occured with moderate wind speed (around 9 to maximum 13
m/s).
Despite the fact that the span was a dead-end span, the
galloping was mainly a one loop. Amplitude was probably
very large, perhaps higher than sag (6 m)
Compared to reference phase, twin bundle galloping were
sensibly influenced by anti-galloping devices.
In this case for two different observation periods of 10
minutes :
pendulum [4] efficiency : reduce tension variation of 25% ,
up to 30%

4.Conclusions on observations: TDD [6] efficiency: reduce tension varitation of 75% up to

80%

Fig. 3 Recording of tension fluctuations at anchoring level in two phases of the Villeroux test station (Belgium).
Only relative changes are important. Upper oscillogramm (±5kN peak-to-peak) for phase with TDD anti-galloping
device, the other one detail during the same period of observation, the tension fluctuation (± 25 kN peak-to-peak) in
the reference phase (twin bundle at the same vertical position).

• aerodynamic coefficient : based on ice thickness

5.Simulations
The same span was studied by simulation, with the
following hypothesis :
• wind speed : 10 m/s (no galloping could be
obtained at 8 m/s)
• Yoke plate : direct connection of the phase
conductor to the insulators (with a rigid plate).
close to 70% of the radius of the conductor (see
curves on fig. 4)
• position of ice : facing the wind, 50° or 60°
upwards.
• ice density : 0.67 (670 kg/m3)
• initial tension/subconductor : 36 kN at 0°C
• température : 0°C
• damping for vertical movement was choosen at
0.5% of critical damping and 2% for torsional
movement.
and of course the same conductor and bundle
arrangement as in actual situation.
It must be noticed that the tuning between vertical
and torsional mode is close to 1, for the three modes.
5.2 Evaluation of stability (with ice and wind) and
galloping simulations: [5]
• 10m/s (with 20% turbulences), ice facing the wind
50° upwards :

one unstable mode : one loop, mixed vertical and

5.1 Frequencies evaluation (Hz) torsion, frequency : 0.36 Hz
(without ice nor wind): Due to low wind speed, the critical wind speed for
higher modes is not reached, despite the tuning.
number of loops : one two three
horizontal (Hz) 0.230 0.460 0.69 galloping limit cycle characteristics:
vertical (Hz) 0.388 0.460 0.70
torsion (Hz) 0.399 0.497 0.75 peak-to peak vertical amplitude : 4.0 m
peak-to peak tension variation: 80 kN/phase
peak-to peak torsional amplitude 60°

Fig. 4 Aerodynamic coefficients used for simulations. Ice thickness 1.1 cm over a subconductor diameter of
32.4 mm (similar as [3])
LIFT positive upwards; Pitching moment and torsional angle positive anti-clockwize. Zero angle when ice
is facing the wind and in horizontal position.
 Fig. 7 Vertical displacement at mid-span.
Fig. 5 Galloping ellipse at mid-span (wind speed Fluctuations are related to wind turbulence.
10 m/s with turbulence intensity of 20%).
The galloping is mainly vertical with
peak-to-peak amplitude close to 6 m.

Fig. 8 Tension fluctuation per phase, obtained by

simulations. Shape is similar as vertical
Fig. 6 Fourier content of tension fluctuations
displacement.
obtained by simulations (to be compared
with 0.36 Hz as measured)
• Unstable range of ice position for such wind speed
is about 45 to 65° facing the wind in upwards
quadrant.
• If torsinal degree of freedom is artificially blocked,
no galloping could occur. Tuning , stability
analysis and the fact that Den-Hartog criterion is
not fulfilled in the range of initial position of ice
(50° upopwards) clearly indicates that the
galloping obtained is a coupled vertical-torsion (so
called « flutter ») instability.
Using the 3 TDD designed for the Villeroux site, there
were no galloping by simulation, at such wind speed.
6. Conclusions
Simulations confirm observations of galloping with
amplitude of about 4 to 6 meters at 10m/s wind speed.
Such amplitude would induce about 60 to 80 kN
tension variation per phase (half is 40 kN, as measured
in one leg of anchoring attachement). This need
appropriate ice orientation. (typical galloping
« ellipse » on fig. 5)
Simulation point out that the galloping is a coupled
vertical-torsional mode and not a Den-Hartog[1] one.
The simulation point out the presence of two and one
loop mode of galloping, with a dominant one loop.
single and bundle conductors. IEEE paper A79
499-5, Vancouver,Canada, july 1979
[5] J. Wang, J.L. Lilien. Overhead Electrical
transmission line galloping. A full multi-span 3-dof
model, some applications and design
recommendations. IEEE Summer meeting, July 20-24,
1997, Berlin, Germany. paper PE-878-PWRD-0-06-
1997.
[6] R. Keutgen, J.L. Lilien. A new damper to solve
galloping on bundled lines. Theoretical
background, laboratory and field results. IEEE
Summer meeting, July 20-24, 1997, Berlin, Germany.
paper PE-928-PWRD-1-04-1997
[7] Marczuk S. Contributions à l’étude du givre. Le
cas de l’hiver 1996-1997. Mémoire de Licence en
Sciences Géographiques. Université de Liège, 1997
(135 pages).
Addresses of Authors
J.L. Lilien, Professor in Transmission and Distribution
of Electrical Enegy, Université de Liège, Institut
d’Electricité Montefiore, Sart Tilman (B28), B4000
Liège, Belgium. Fax : +32-4-3662998, e-mail :
lilien@montefiore.ulg.ac.be.
M. Erpicum, Professor in Climatology, Université de
Liège, Sart Tilman (B11), B4000 Liège, Belgium. Fax :
+32-4-3665722, e-mail : Michel.Erpicum@ulg.ac.be.

Both measurement and simulation certify the good M. Wolfs, Laborelec,Rodestraat 125, B1630 Linkebeek,
behaviour of TDD as designed for that line. Belgium. Fax : +32-2-3820299

Acknowledgements
The authors from the university would like to thank
the « Communauté Française de Belgique » for their
financial support for research in cable dynamics area.
(Projet ARC 94-99, N°176). Michel Escarmelle from
Laborelec helped a lot for Villeroux tests stations
installation and he also managed all recordings and
data transmission.

References
[1] Den Hartog, J.P., Transmission Line Vibration
due to Sleet, Trans. A.I.E.E., 1930, 49.
[2] Transmission line reference book. Wind
induced conductor motion. Electric Power
Research Institute, Palo Alto,CA, 1980.
[3] Tunstall, M., Koutselos, L.T., Further Studies
of the Galloping Instability & Natural Ice
Accretions on Overhead Line Conductors, 4th Int.
Conf. on Atmospheric Icing of Structures., Paris,
sept.1988.
[4] D.G. Havard, J.C. Pohlman. Field testing of
detuning pendulums for controlling galloping of