2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins

Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Discussion of Current Issues

Related to
Steel Telecommunications
Monopole Structures
David W. Hawkins, P.E., M.ASCE 1
1 Department

Manager, Paul J. Ford and Company, Structural Engineers,

250 East Broad Street, Suite 1500, Columbus, OH 43215
PH (614) 221-6679; email: [email protected]

Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

1 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

About Paul J. Ford and Company

Founded in 1965 by Paul J. Ford

Employee-Owned (ESOP) Since 1994

Since 1976; Design of Self-Support and Guyed

Towers for Cable TV and Long-Distance Telephone
Since 1985; Design of Telecom/Cellular Towers
Mid-1990s; Telecom Act of 96; Boom in Design of
Telecom Towers and Monopoles
Yearly Average of 2,000 Analyses, Designs and/or
Reinforcement of Towers and Monopoles
Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

2 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

About the Author

David W. Hawkins, P.E., M.ASCE

Education: BS (83), MS (89), The Ohio State University
Experience: 25 years with Paul J. Ford and Company,
Structural Engineers
Member, TIA TR-14.7 Engineering Subcommittee
Member, TIA TR-14.7 Structural Reliability Task Group
Chair, TIA TR-14.7 Monopole Design Sub-Task Group
Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

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2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Overview -- Types of Tubular Steel Poles:

Flagpoles
Electric Utility Poles

Traffic Signal Poles

Highway Light and Sign Poles
Commercial Sign Poles

Telecommunications Antenna
Support Poles (Monopoles)
Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

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2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Telecommunications Monopoles

Generally categorized into two main types:

(1.) Tubular Round Shafts
with bolted flange splices

(2.) Polygonal Tapered Shafts

with slip-joint splices and
bolted base plate connections.
(12 and 18-sided are common)
Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

5 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Telecommunications
Monopoles

Polygonal
Pole
Fabrication

Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

6 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Telecommunications
Monopoles

Polygonal
Pole
Components

Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

7 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Telecommunications Design Reference Standards

TIA/EIA-222-F-96 (1996)
Referenced by IBC 2006 (Ch. 35)
Sections 1609.1.1, 3108.4
TIA-222-G-2005 (2005)
Referenced by 2007 Supplement
to the IBC (Ch. 35; Sect. 1609.1.1)
Referenced by IBC 2009 (Ch. 35)
Sections 1609.1.1, 3108.4
Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

8 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Telecommunications Design Reference Standards

TIA-222-F (1996)
ASCE 7-88 Fastest Mile Winds
AISC ASD (elastic; 1/3 stress increase)
TIA-222-G (2005)
ASCE 7-02 3-sec Gust Winds
AISC LRFD (elastic limit states)

TIA-222-G-2 (2009)
AISC LRFD (plastic limit states)
Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

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2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Compare TIA-222-G with G-2

TIA-222-G and G-1 (Addendum 1):
Factored Loads with
Elastic Limit States
TIA-222-G-2 (Addendum 2):
Factored Loads with
Plastic Limit States
Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

10 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Compare TIA-222-G with G-2

Table 4-8: Effective Yield Stress for Polygonal Tubular Members

TIA-222-G and G-1 (Addendum 1) Upper Limits:

Effective Yield Stress,

Moment Capacity,

Fy = Fy
Mn = Fy S

(Elastic)

TIA-222-G-2 (Addendum 2) Upper Limits:

Effective Yield Stress,

Moment Capacity,

Fy = 1.27 Fy
Mn = Fy S
= (1.27 Fy) S

(where Z 1.27 S for 18-sided polygon)

= Fy Z
Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

(Plastic)
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2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

TIA-222-G Table 4-8

1.3 1.27

(18-sided Polygon)

1.27 1.27 1.25

TIA-222-G-2 (Addendum 2)

1.22
1.18

1.2

1.14

TIA-222-G and G-1

1.10

F'y / Fy

1.1

1.06
1.02
0.99

1.0

0.95

1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00

0.91

0.96

0.9

0.87

0.92

0.83
0.76

0.82

0.6

Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

0.80

0.85

1.17

Compact Limit

0.7

0.759

0.8

Compact Limit

0.89

(Fy/E)1/2 (w/t)

0.74

0.78
0.75

0.72
0.68

0.67

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2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Factored Flexural Strength (Shaft Moment Capacity) Chart

8,000

70

7,000

60

6,000

50

5,000
40
4,000
30

3,000
TIA-222-G Factored Flexural Strength, Mn

2,000
1,000

TIA-222-G-2 Factored Flexural Strength, Mn

TIA-222-G Table 4-8: Effective Yield Stress, f F'y
TIA-222-G-2 Table 4-8: Effective Yield Stress, f F'y

0
0.125 0.188 0.250 0.313 0.375 0.438 0.500 0.563 0.625 0.688 0.750

Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

20

Shaft Wall Thickness, t (inches)

10

Table 4-8: Effective Yield Stress, f Fy

Factored Flexural Strength: Shaft Moment Capacity,

f Mn (ft-kips)

Comparison of TIA-222-G and G-1 (Addendum 1) with TIA-222-G-2 (Addendum 2)

9,000
80
Example: Shaft 48 Diam; 18-Sided Polygon; Fy=65 ksi

0
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2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Compare TIA-222-G with G-2

Summary:
Effective Shaft Flexural
Strength for Polygonal Poles
Can be 10% to 27% Higher
With TIA-222-G-2
Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

(Addendum 2)
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2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Fatigue and Vortex Shedding Issues

Criteria for fatigue and dynamic effects from vortex

shedding are not currently addressed in TIA-222-G.
AASHTO has fatigue criteria for highway structures, but
may not be appropriate for telecommunications poles.
ASCE Manual 72 (1990) and ASCE 48-05 Standard
(2006) mention vortex shedding and fatigue but do not
provide specific criteria.
TIA TR-14.7 Subcommittee intends to address fatigue
and vortex shedding criteria in future revisions of the
TIA-222 Standard.
Additional research and testing is needed to develop
fatigue design criteria for poles.
Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

15 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Shaft Upgrades and Reinforcing

Main Types:
1. Field Welded
Risks: Fire, Corrosion
2. Field Bolted
Cons: Larger connections
than welded

Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

Polygonal pole shaft with field bolted channel

reinforcements. (Courtesy B. Reese)

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2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Discussion of Monopole Failures

Man-Caused:
Monopole Fires

Vandalism
Cracks in Poor Welds in Base Plates
Environmental Influence:

Extreme Wind with Debris

Vortex Shedding Fatigue

Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

17 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Monopole Fires

(Courtesy B. Reese)
(Courtesy B. Reese)

(Courtesy B. Reese)

Most fires are caused by field activities such as flame torching holes
in the shaft and field welding. Heat from careless burning and
welding ignites debris, such as bird nests, in the pole which then
ignites the plastic coated coaxial cables.
Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

18 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Monopole Flange Connection Failures

(D. Hawkins)

(Courtesy B. Reese)

Collapse of pipe poles

with bolted flange splices

Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

19 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Monopole Flange Connection Failures

(D. Hawkins)

Collapse of pipe poles

with bolted flange splices

Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

(D. Hawkins)

20 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Monopole Flange Connection Failures

(D. Hawkins)

(D. Hawkins)

Collapse of pipe poles

with bolted flange splices

Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

21 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Monopole Flange Connection Failures

Toe crack at top of weld at vertex in

shaft to base plate connection.

Toe crack at vertex in shaft.

(Courtesy B. Reese)

(Courtesy B. Reese)

Toe Cracks in Base Plate Welds at Shaft

Vertex in Polygonal Poles

Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

22 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Monopole Flange Connection Failures

(Courtesy B. Reese)

Magnetic Particle (MT)

(Courtesy B. Reese)

Ultrasonic (UT) Testing

NDT Testing for Toe Cracks

Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

in Base Plate Welds

23 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Base Plate and Flange Plate Connections

Base Plates Without Stiffeners
Base Plates With Gusset Plate Stiffeners
Flange to Shaft Connection Types:
(a) Socket Type with fillet welds
(b) Tee Joint Type with CJP Welds
Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

24 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Base Plates Without Stiffeners

Current design methodologies assume linear elastic bending of the base
plate. Typically used with AISC-ASD with TIA-222-F working loads.
TIA TR-14.7 Subcommittee researching new base plate design criteria:
Plastic yield line methods at limit states. Analogous to yield lines in
concrete slabs, uses balanced energy approach.
Uses AISC-LRFD with TIA-222-G factored loads.
Base plate is proportioned for minimum thickness to eliminate prying
forces on the bolts.
Plate ultimate capacity determined by plastic bending limits (FyZ).
Results indicate plate thickness should be at least equal to anchor rod
diameter.
Preliminary FEA studies of unstiffened base plates show yield line
distribution of stress.
Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

25 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Base Plates Without Stiffeners

FEA model results for six bolt double flange

connection on round pole shaft.
26 of 37

Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Base Plates Without Stiffeners

FEA model results for six bolt flange connection.

Round pole shaft elements hidden.
27 of 37

Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Base Plates Without Stiffeners

FEA model results for six bolt flange connection.

Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

28 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Base Plates Reinforced With

Gusset Plate Stiffeners

Base plate reinforcement with Tall

gusset plate stiffeners. (Courtesy B.
Reese)
Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

Base plate reinforcement with Tall

gusset plate stiffeners, new anchor
rods and brackets. (Courtesy B.
Reese)

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2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Gusset Plate Stiffener Proportions

Taper
(typ.)
h 18

Taper
(typ.)

h 6
w
6

Chamfer
(typ.)

Short Stiffener with

h:w = 1:1 aspect ratio
(Not recommended)

Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

w
6

Chamfer
(typ.)

Tall Stiffener with

h:w = 3:1 aspect ratio
(Recommended)

30 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

FEA of Stiffened Base Plates

No Stiffeners

3x3
Stiffeners

6x18
Stiffeners

Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

6x6
Stiffeners

Dbl 6x18
Stiffeners

31 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

FEA of Stiffened Base Plates

No Stiffeners

6x18
Stiffeners

Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

3x3 Stiffeners

Dbl 6x18
Stiffeners

6x6 Stiffeners

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2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Further Research Needed

Issues:
TIA TR-14.7 Subcommittee has voluntary
members from engineering firms, tower
owners, fabricators and contractors.
There has been no significant funding
available for research. Each group
contributes their own time and resources
for any research work done.
Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

33 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Further Research Needed

Opportunities for Additional Research:
Develop base plate design methods using limit
states and reliability based approaches.
FEA studies of unstiffened and stiffened base
plates using non linear methods.
Full scale physical testing of unstiffened and
stiffened base plates to correlate with FEA.
Fatigue research for base plate connections,
with and without stiffeners.
Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

34 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Additional Research Needed

FEA Simulations:
Non-Rigid Base Plates with Bolt Prying

Square Base Plates (bolts in quadrants)

Base Plates with Stiffeners (incl. fatigue)
Using Nonlinear Material (Plastic) Methods
Parametric studies (plate thickness, bolt size,
shaft type, bolt circle, flange diameter, etc.) to
determine empirical relationships
Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

35 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

Additional Research Needed

(continued)

Physical Testing:
Full scale physical testing of base
plates
Full scale physical testing of base
plates with stiffeners
Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

36 of 37

2010 ASCE / SEI Structures Congress | Orlando, FL

Non-Building Structures | May 15, 2010 | D. Hawkins
Discussion of Current Issues Related to Steel Telecommunications Monopole Structures

THANK YOU

Copyright 2010 by Paul J. Ford and Company, all rights reserved.

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