FATIGUE FAILURE OF ALUMINUM LUMINAIRE SUPPORTS

Several aluminum luminaire supports have failed in New York State in recent years. This report summarizes results of a study to determine the causes of these failures and to develop an analytical tool for their prediction. Three structures located along I-90 in Albany were instrumented and tested. Dynamic strain, wind velocity, and wind direction were monitored. Test data included frequency of vibration, damping coefficients and wind velocities. The observed failures were concluded to result from high-cycle overstress due to aerodynamically induced vibrations at moderate wind velocities. The inability of the available analysis to predict these failures is attributed to lack of sophistication in the vortex-shedding analysis and lack of information on low-velocity winds.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored by 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:
  • McCagg, R A
  • Beal, D B
• Publication Date: 1977-5

Media Info

• Pagination: 27 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aluminum; Analysis; Failure; Forecasting; Luminaires; Structural supports; Velocity; Vibration; Wind
• Uncontrolled Terms: Wind direction
• Old TRIS Terms: Analytical method; Supports; Wind velocity
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00158114
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-NYSDOTERD77SR56Final Rpt., FCP 45A1074
• Contract Numbers: HPR FCP 45A1-074
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Oct 13 1977 12:00AM