Analysis and capacity assessment of span wire and mast arm traffic signal support structures
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Authors
Gorab, Noel
Issue Date
2016-08
Type
Electronic thesis
Thesis
Thesis
Language
ENG
Keywords
Civil engineering
Alternative Title
Abstract
The analysis and capacity assessment of traffic signal support structures is investigated in this thesis. Traffic signals are supported either by a hanging cable and vertical poles (span wire structure) or a mast arm and vertical post (mast arm structure). A variety of configurations are used in practice (e.g., single span, box span, single mast arm and dual mast arm) and in all cases must be designed to resist dead, wind, ice and fatigue loading. In this project, an alpha version of a software program has been developed to perform efficient analysis and capacity assessment of such structures in accordance with both federal (AASHTO) and state (NYSDOT) specifications. One challenge with implementing such specifications in software is the application of wind load to the structure. Simplified methods for wind load analysis of span wire structures are defined in the AASHTO specifications but the method does not clearly distinguish between analysis for tethered and non-tethered spans. Furthermore, an accurate wind load analysis for a specific structural configuration and geometry requires that the critical wind load direction be determined. In some cases, the critical direction is readily identifiable but in most cases it is not.
Description
August 2016
School of Engineering
School of Engineering
Full Citation
Publisher
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY