VEHICLE-INDUCED GUST LOADS ON ALUMINUM OVERHEAD SIGN STRUCTURES

Vehicle-induced gust loads are not included in New York State's design of aluminum overhead sign support structures and designers have feared that these loads might lead to fatigue failures. This report summarizes the results of a project initiated to determine if current design procedures must be revised, and if existing sign structures should be inspected for possible damage. Two existing sign structures on I-787 in Albany were instrumented and tested. Dynamic strain was measured using a specially constructed data-acquisition system capable of monitoring up to eight channels of data at the rate of 200 samples per second per-channel. Test data included stress range histograms, frequencies of vibration, and damping coefficients for sign structure vibration induced by large vehicles, in this case trucks. From analysis of the test data and information on fatigue strength of aluminum, it is concluded that such gust loads have no appreciable effect on fatigue life of the test structures.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored by and prepared in cooperation with DOT, Federal Highway Administration.
• Corporate Authors:

  New York State Department of Transportation

  Engineering Research and Development Bureau, 1220 Washington Avenue
  Albany, NY  United States  12232
• Authors:
  • Zell, J B
• Publication Date: 1977-3

Media Info

• Pagination: 15 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aluminum; Data collection; Dynamic loads; Fatigue (Mechanics); Gusts; Overhead traffic signs; Sign supports; Signs; Strain measurement; Stresses; Vibration
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fatigue life; Gust loads
• Old TRIS Terms: Sign structures
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00158060
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-NYSDOTERD77SR55Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: HPR FCP 45A1-064
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Oct 13 1977 12:00AM