WIND DRAG COEFFICIENTS FOR OCTAGONAL CYLINDERS. FINAL REPORT

Highway signs, luminaires, and traffic signal structures are exposed to wind loads throughout their lives. The design of the cross section, and thus the amount of material and method of fabrication, very often is controlled by wind loads. Improved definitions of wind loads using drag coefficients make luminaires not only more economical but also more reliable. The Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation sponsored a research project at Texas Tech University to determine drag coefficients for octagonal shaped luminaire supports. The research used the tow tank of the Mechanical Engineering Department at Texas Tech University for the experimental work. The experimental technique was verified using published data for circular cylinders. One of the innovations in the project was the use of actual industry manufactured luminaire poles as test specimens. These specimens matched the surface roughness and the geometric parameters of field poles. Drag coefficient values obtained in this project are about 25% higher than the ones currently specified in the AASHTO standard.

• Corporate Authors:

  Texas Tech University, Lubbock

  Center for Applied Research and Engineering, P.O. Box 4089
  Lubbock, TX  United States  79409

  Texas State Department of Highways & Public Transportation

  Transportation Planning Division, P.O. Box 5051
  Austin, TX  United States  78763

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Mehta, K C
  • Ritchie, D L
  • Oler, W
• Publication Date: 1990-3

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 50 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerodynamic force; Coefficients; Cross sections; Design; Drag; Luminaires; Sign supports; Signals; Structural supports; Support poles; Wind
• Uncontrolled Terms: Wind load
• Old TRIS Terms: Signal support (Structural); Supports
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00605602
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/TX-90, RRN 11-5-89-1207
• Contract Numbers: Study 11-5-89-1207
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Mar 31 1991 12:00AM