International Journal of Management, Technology And Engineering ISSN NO : 2249-7455

ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF FOUR LEGGED TRANSMISSION TOWER

WITH DIFFERENT BRACINGS
B. Vidya1, G. Tirumala Rao2, S.Varahalu3, K. Lakshman4
1
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Gayatri Vidya Parishad College for
Degree and PG courses (GVPCDPGC), Visakhapatnam.
2,3,4
UG students, Department of Civil Engineering, Gayatri Vidya Parishad College for Degree
and PG courses (GVPCDPGC), Visakhapatnam.
1
vidya@gvpcdpgc.edu.in, 2tirumala.gorja@gmail.com, 3varahalusamudrala264@gmail.com,
4
lakshmanlucky6991@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
To transmit the power from one place to other place with heavy electrical conductor at a
sufficient and safe from the ground, Transmission line tower are better option. In addition to
their self -weight they have to withstand all forces of nature like strong wind. The main object of
this project is to determine the economical and efficient bracing from X, K, W. The present study
describes which bracing most economical and efficient in analysis and design of four legged self-
supporting transmission tower. All the loads as per IS 802 Part-1(1995) are taken in to account
as per wind zone V. The model considered is of height of 35m and square base width of 10m. A
comparative study is conducted with respect to displacement, moment and steel take off for
different bracings of the tower. It is concluded that the tower with W bracing is most economical
and efficient compared to other type of bracings

KEYWORDS: four legged tower, bracings, moments, deflections

1. INTRODUCTION
In every developing country, the electric power consumption has rising highly, as the rate of
growth of population is being very high in every country on account of the comparatively low
base area. Bracings are interconnections between legs, to provide stability and to distribute load
equally between legs and ground. There are a lot of requirements have to be discussed in the
planning and design of transmission tower. The main parts of transmission tower are conductors,
insulators, foundation. Interconnections between systems enhance reliability and economy. The
objective of this project is to show the most economical bracing of a transmission tower under
various loads

2. MODELLING OF TOWER
The software STAAD Pro has been used for modeling. This software is comfortable and have
wide scope to do wind analysis, static and dynamic analysis. In the study from the loading point
of view, wind load and dead load have taken into account. From generation of the model,

Volume IX, Issue IV, APRIL/2019 Page No: 4658

International Journal of Management, Technology And Engineering ISSN NO : 2249-7455

analysis, design and verification of result, STAAD.PRO is the necessary choice for concrete,
alumimium, steel, pile bridge, culverts and much more. The following key STAAD.PRO tools
help simplify ordinarily tedious Tasks. The wind load analysis is carried out based on IS 802
part1- 1995. The three different bracings such as X, K, W with angle section is considered for
different load cases using STAAD Pro software.

3. PLAN AND DIMENSION DETAILS

The following are the specifications of tower as shown in Table 1. The bracings used are X, K,
W. Figure 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 shows the plan of the tower representing the X and Y direction used for
analysis. Figure 3.4 shows an elevation of the transmission tower.

Table1 Specifications of tower

Type of tower 220 kV double circuit 4 legged tower

Height of tower 35 m
Base of tower 10 m X 10 m
Vertical space between conductors 9m

Figure 3.1 Plan of the tower with K bracing

Volume IX, Issue IV, APRIL/2019 Page No: 4659

International Journal of Management, Technology And Engineering ISSN NO : 2249-7455

Figure 3.2 Plan of the tower with X bracing

Figure 3.3 Plan of the tower with W bracing

Volume IX, Issue IV, APRIL/2019 Page No: 4660

International Journal of Management, Technology And Engineering ISSN NO : 2249-7455

Figure 3.4 Elevation of the tower

4. ASSIGNING SUPPORT
Fixed supports are provided at the four legs of the tower of the transmission tower which are
rigidly fixed to the foundation.

5. ASSIGNING LOADS
The load acting on the towers are:

1. Dead load. Self-weight of the tower and the conductors and wires. Figure 5.1 shows the
assigning of dead load.
2. Wind load calculated as per IS 802 (Part1/sec 1): 1995

Figure 5.1 Assigning dead load

5.2 WIND LOAD CALCULATION

Metrological Reference wind speed(Vr)
Vr = Vb / Ko
As per average wind speed in Visakhapatnam. It comes under Zone 5.

Volume IX, Issue IV, APRIL/2019 Page No: 4661

International Journal of Management, Technology And Engineering ISSN NO : 2249-7455

The average wind speed in Visakhapatnam is 9.6 miles per hour (50 m/s).
Vr = 50/ 1.375 = 36.36 m/s
K1 = 1.0 (reliability level 1 as voltage is less than 400kV)
K2 = 1.08 terrain category 1
Vd = 36.36 * 1.0 * 1.08 = 39.27 m/s
Pd = 0.6 * 39.27 * 39.27 = 925 N/m2
Wind load on insulator wire (height of tower = 35m) is 11.75kN

5.3 COMBINATION OF LOAD

The load combination has been created with the command of define combinations. As per Indian
code, generate loads and assign to the structure. In this combination, the wind load in one
direction (x or z) is taken along with dead load. Figure 5.3 shows assigning of combination load.

Figure 5.2 Assigning Wind load in X- Direction

Volume IX, Issue IV, APRIL/2019 Page No: 4662

International Journal of Management, Technology And Engineering ISSN NO : 2249-7455

Figure 5.3 Assigning combination load

5.4 ANALYSIS OF TOWER

After assigning the loads to the structure, analysis is done to evaluate the displacement, moment
and steel take off for determining the economic section. After analysis, design can be obtained in
the software STAAD Pro.

6. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

1. Figure 6.1 shows maximum bending moment for different types of bracing. Tower with
K-bracing has maximum value of 94318.5 N-mm than the remaining bracings. Tower
with W-bracing has less moment of 60799.4 N-mm. Hence, W-bracing is stable.
2. Figure 6.2 shows maximum displacement in X-direction for different types of bracing. X-
bracing has maximum value of 4.06 mm than the remaining bracings. W-bracing has less
displacement of 2.6 mm. W-bracing is efficient.
3. Figure 6.3 shows maximum displacement in Z-direction for different types of bracing. X-
bracing has maximum value of 5.71 mm than the remaining bracings. W-bracing has less
displacement of 4.43 mm. W-bracing is efficient.
4. Figure 6.4 shows maximum Steel take off for different types of bracing. K-bracing has
maximum value of 285 KN than the remaining bracings. W-bracing has less steel take off
of 141 KN. W bracing is economical.

Volume IX, Issue IV, APRIL/2019 Page No: 4663

International Journal of Management, Technology And Engineering ISSN NO : 2249-7455

100000

Maximum bending moment in kNm

80000

60000

40000

20000

0
X bracing K bracing W bracing
Type of bracing

Figure 6.1 Maximum bending moment for different bracings

4.5
Maximum displacement in X direction

4
3.5
3
2.5
(mm)

2
1.5
1
0.5
0
X bracing K bracing W bracing
Type of bracing
.

Figure 6.2 Maximum displacements in X direction for different bracings

Volume IX, Issue IV, APRIL/2019 Page No: 4664

International Journal of Management, Technology And Engineering ISSN NO : 2249-7455

Maximum dislacement in Z direction

6

4
(mm)

0
X bracing K bracing W bracing
Type of bracing

Figure 6.3 Maximum displacements in Z direction for different bracings

300

250
Quantity of steel in kN

200

150

100

50

0
X bracing K bracing W bracing
Type of bracing

Figure 6.4 Steel take off for different bracings

7. CONCLUSION
1. Moments in all members of towers with X and K-bracing are about 15% more than W-
bracing.
2. Maximum Deflection at the peak of tower with K bracing is 38% more than maximum
deflection of W type bracing.

Volume IX, Issue IV, APRIL/2019 Page No: 4665

International Journal of Management, Technology And Engineering ISSN NO : 2249-7455

3. All cross arm members with different bracing patterns do not show much difference in
axial forces.
4. Steel take off of tower with K-bracing is 50% more than steel take off of tower with W-
bracing and 23% less than that of tower with X-bracing.
From the above analysis, it is concluded that tower with W type bracing is more efficient and
economical than tower with other type of bracing.

8. REFERENCES

1. Hadimani and Sachin Kulkarni, "Static and Dynamic Analysis of Transmission Line
Tower", International Journal of Emerging Research in Management &Technology,
Volume-6, Issue-2, 2017, pp147-15.4
2. Archana R and Aswathy S Kumar, “Analysis and Design of Four Legged Transmission
Tower”, International journal of science and research, Vol.5, issue 7, July 2016, pp.
1026-1030.
3. B. Bharath Kumar Reddy, K. Rasagnya, V. Sanjay Gokul, “A Study on Analysis of
Transmission Line Tower and Design of Foundation”, International Journal of
Engineering Development and Research, Volume 4, Issue 2, 2016, pp. 2214-2224.
4. IS 802 Part 1-1995, “Code of practice for use of structural steel in overhead transmission
line towers”, Bureau of Indian standards, New Delhi, India.
5. Amlam das and Shiva Kumar “Modelling and Analysis of Lattice Towers for Wind
Turbines”, International Journal of Science and Research, 4(4), April 2015, pp. 999-1003.
6. J. Vinotha Jenifer, Priya A. Jacob, “A comparative study on analysis of
Telecommunication tower with different member cross section", International Journal of
Civil Engineering and Technology, Volume 8, Issue 4, April 2017, pp. 1002-1011.
7. Mahesh Ram Patel, R.C. Singh, “Analysis of a Tall Structure using STAAD PRO
providing Different Wind Intensities as per 875 PART-III”, International Journal of
Engineering Sciences and Research Technology, 6(5), May 2017, pp.218-225.

Volume IX, Issue IV, APRIL/2019 Page No: 4666