Determining Remaining Fatigue Life of In-Situ Mast-Arm Traffic Signal Support
Wind induced vibration of Mast-Arm Traffic Signal structures is a significant problem. These vibrations and the corresponding wind induced structural stresses and strains can reduce the service life of the structure via fatigue. That is, numerous cycles of alternating moderate structural stress can accumulate damage and result in structural failure. This mechanism is the likely cause of many observed failures of traffic signal structures in the U.S. In the simplest model, wind induced vibration of mast arms is a function of the wind speed and the wind angle of attack. In relation to wind direction, vibrations are larger when the wind angle of attack (e.g., wind out of the north) is perpendicular to the span direction of the mast arm (e.g., mast arm orientated in the east-west direction). In relation to wind speed, vibrations are larger when the natural frequency of the mast arm/support column is the same as the frequency of vortex shedding from the mast arm. The vortex shedding frequency (in cycles/sec) is proportional to the wind speed and the so-called Strouhal number (typical value 0.2 for circular shapes), and inversely proportional to the mast arm diameter. When the vortex shedding 'forcing' frequency matches the structure's natural frequency, a resonance phenomenon 'lock-in' occurs resulting in large crosswind (vertical) vibration of the mast arm. For a system at resonance, the amplitude of structural response depends strongly on the structure's inherent damping (internal energy dissipation). The overall objective of the applied research project is to develop a general methodology to assess the remaining service life of mast arm traffic structures in New York State.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $199999.00
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Contract Numbers:
55505-01-04
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Sponsor Organizations:
New York State Department of Transportation
50 Wolf Road
Albany, NY United States 12232 -
Project Managers:
Mooney, Deborah
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Performing Organizations:
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Department of Civil Engineering
Troy, NY United States 12180-3590 -
Principal Investigators:
Letchford, Chris
O'Rourke, Michael
- Start Date: 20110901
- Expected Completion Date: 0
- Actual Completion Date: 20140630
- Source Data: RiP Project 29287
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Failure; Field tests; Stresses; Vibration; Wind pressure
- Uncontrolled Terms: Fatigue life prediction; Mast arms (Traffic signals)
- Geographic Terms: New York (State)
- Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Vehicles and Equipment;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01548336
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: University Transportation Research Center
- Contract Numbers: 55505-01-04
- Files: UTC, RIP
- Created Date: Dec 23 2014 1:01AM