SEDL / STP / STP1353-EB / STP15780S

AE Evaluation of Fatigue Damage in Traffic Signal Poles

Hamilton, HR
Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY

Fowler, TJ
Adjunct Professor, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

Puckett, JA
Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY

Pages: 14    Published: Jan 1999

Download this paper for $25 PDF (244K)          View License Agreement
Abstract

Two traffic signal structures recently collapsed in Wyoming. The collapse was a result of brittle fracture of the connection between the cantilever signal light support arm (mast arm) and the vertical pole (post) caused by wind-induced, largeamplitude vibrations of the mast arm. This paper presents the problem, the proposed test program, the results of initial development tests, and the effort to develop a viable AE testing technique along with evaluation criteria that can be used to screen in-service traffic signal poles.