Assessing the Structural, Driver and Economic Impacts of Traffic Pole Mounted Wind Power Generator and Solar Panel Hybrid System

This project evaluates the physical and economic feasibility of using existing traffic infrastructure to mount wind power generators. Some possible places to mount a light weight wind generator and solar panel hybrid system are traffic signal poles and street light poles. Traffic signal poles can themselves have multiple designs depending on type of mount (mast arm vs. span wire) and the width of the intersection (load carried) etc. The close proximity of street light poles and traffic signal poles to the traffic cabinets, which can be used for storing the battery banks, makes them good candidates to mount the hybrid system. This project assesses the structural impacts of the hybrid system on the poles. Lincoln standard plans will be used for identifying the pole and foundation design. Structural analysis involves a first principal for wind load analysis and an explicit finite element analysis using LS-Dyna for evaluating fatigue. Methodologies to conduct economic analysis are developed. Economic impacts of the proposed wind power system were evaluated using a before and after study at a test intersection in Lincoln, Nebraska. A cost and benefit analysis was performed to identify the economic efficiency at the test site.

  • Record URL:
  • Supplemental Notes:
    • This document was disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation‘s University Transportation Centers Program.
  • Corporate Authors:

    Mid-America Transportation Center

    University of Nebraska-Lincoln
    2200 Vine Street, PO Box 830851
    Lincoln, NE  United States  68583-0851

    Research and Innovative Technology Administration

    1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
    Washington, DC  United States  20590
  • Authors:
    • Sharma, Anuj
    • Appiah, Justice
    • Rosenbaugh, Scott K
  • Publication Date: 2012-6

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Web
  • Edition: Final Report
  • Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 70p

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01449702
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: 25-1121-0001-420, MATC-UNL: 420
  • Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
  • Created Date: Oct 22 2012 9:13AM