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Guy tension influence on the structural

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Article in Journal of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures June 2012

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 JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR SHELL AND SPATIAL STRUCTURES: J. IASS

GUY TENSION INFLUENCE ON THE STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOR OF

A GUYED MAST
Abel Carrasco Luzardo1, Vivian Elena Parns2, Patricia Martn Rodrguez3
1
PhD Candidate, Department of Civil Engineering , Institute Superior Polytechnic Jos Antonio Echeverra, 11901,
114 St. Marianao, City of Havana, Cuba, abelcl@civil.cujae.edu.cu
2
PhD Civil Engineer, Department of Civil Engineering, Institute Superior Polytechnic Jos Antonio Echeverra, 11901,
114 St. Marianao, City of Havana, Cuba, vivian@civil.cujae.edu.cu
3
PhD Candidate, Institute Superior Polytechnic Jos Antonio Echeverra, 11901 114 St. Marianao, City of Havana,
Cuba, patriciamr@civil.cujae.edu.cu

Editors Note: Manuscript submitted 7 July 2011; revision received 21 May 2012; accepted 1 June. This paper is
open for written discussion, which should be submitted to the IASS Secretariat no later than December 2012.

ABSTRACT

Guyed masts are a specialized type of structure commonly used in the broadcasting industry to support
equipment at substantial heights. The stability of these structures is based on prestressed guy cables. The level
of prestressing is specified by the designer and should be rectified periodically. Excessive relaxation can make
the guys sensitive to galloping, while high tensions can produce vibrations of the cables; for these reasons it is
recommended that the cable tension values should be within a certain range. This work investigates the effects of
changes in the cable tensions on the displacements of a mast, the axial forces of the members and the dynamic
characteristics of a mast. The results show that an increase of the cables tension in the studied range produces a
decrease of up to 33% of the axial forces in the legs under extreme wind load, and produces a significant
increment in the natural frequency of the mast.

Keywords: Guyed mast, cable tension, wind load, initial tension.

1. INTRODUCTION vibration. The cable element has therefore received

Guyed masts are structures broadly used in the field
of telecommunications; their stability is based on
pretensioning the cables. Prestressing of the cables
is imposed during construction of the mast and it
should be rectified periodically. The initial guy
tension may vary from 8% to 15% of the breaking
strength of the guy [1-3], and is usually
recommended to be 10%. Over the years, the
collapse of several guyed masts has been attributed
to galloping. This phenomenon occurs under certain
wind conditions when the guys (which support the
shaft laterally) experience large amplitude
oscillations [4, 5]. At the time of high winds in each
hurricane season, the guys suffer variations of their
tension that are not always rectified and which
provoke a change in the structural behavior of the
mast.
Guyed masts exhibit a high nonlinear behavior due
to cable presence and the change of stiffness under
wind and prestressing loads [6]. The natural
frequencies of the mast depend among other factors
on the magnitude of the guys tension at the time of
a lot of attention in the literature and numerous
models have been suggested [7-13].
This paper investigates the effects of changes in a
guys tension on the displacements, the axial forces
and the dynamic characteristic of a typical Cuban
guyed mast.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY
An existing 120 m tall guyed mast with seven guy
support levels and guyed in three directions was
selected for this study, as shown in figure 1 and
figure 2. The steel mast consists of a triangular
lattice structure with a face width of 1.2 meters and
a pinned base. The mast is formed by legs,
diagonals and horizontal members, figure 3. The
legs are angle bars with cross-sectional dimensions
of 100 x 100 x 10 mm. The crossed diagonals are
1.56 m long angle bars with a cross section of
50 x 50 x 5 mm, and connected to each other by a
pin in the middle. The horizontal members are
angle bars with a cross section of 63 x 63 x 6 mm.
A flexible 6 m tube supporting antennas is

111
 Vol. 53 (2012) No. 2 June n. 172

cantilevered above the top of the mast. Cable
mechanical properties were considered as minimum
yield stress of 1600 MPa and a modulus of
elasticity of 2x105 MPa.
Figure 1. Geometry of the mast
The mast was modeled as a 3D truss pinned at the
base, and the cables were modeled as an elastic
catenary pinned at the anchorage and at the joint
with the mast. An iterative procedure to solve the
catenary equations was implemented to calculate
cable element stiffness and end tension values for
each displaced configuration of the guy under wind
load. The loading step was divided into 10 equal
small increments and at each load increment the
non-linear equations were solved using Newton-
Raphsons method, hence internal forces at the
members and reactions were obtained. The
geometry and physical properties of the guys under
still-air conditions are provided in Table 1, where
Lc is the straight chord length between the cable
ends, is the vertical angle between the chord line
and the horizontal, a G is the cross-sectional area,
w G is the unit weight, T is the breaking strength,
and E G is the elastic modulus.
Table 1 Geometry and physical properties of guys

0 2
Level Height (m) Lc (m) () aG (mm ) wG (kN/m) T (kN) EG (MPa)

1 15 52,2 16,7 155 0,0128 235 196501

2 30 58,3 31,0 155 0,0128 235 196501
3 48 69,3 43,8 155 0,0128 235 196501
4 66 103,7 39,5 219 0,0180 331 196501
5 84 116,0 46,4 219 0,0180 331 196501
6 102 150,0 42,8 219 0,0180 331 196501
7 120 162,8 47,49 219 0,0180 331 196501

The pretension loading on cables was considered

like a target force in the near end to the anchorage.
The target force load is a special type of loading
where a deformation load is iteratively applied to
the cable in a specified point (the end of anchorage)
until the desired cable tension is achieve. Four
different prestressing forces in the cables were
defined: 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of the breaking
strength of the guy specified by the manufacturer
Figure 2. 3D Model
(Table 2).

Table 2 Initial forces for each model

Breaking strength 5% of the breaking 10% of the breaking 15% of the breaking 20% of the breaking
(kN) strength strength strength strength
235,00 11,75 23,50 35,25 47,00
235,00 11,75 23,50 35,25 47,00
235,00 11,75 23,50 35,25 47,00
331,00 16,55 33,10 49,65 66,20
331,00 16,55 33,10 49,64 66,20
331,00 16,55 33,10 49,65 66,20
331,00 16,55 33,10 49,65 66,20

Three wind directions on the structure were

analyzed: 0o, 60o, and 90o regarding one of the axes
of symmetry of the mast (figure 4). The basic speed
applied to the mast was 39 m/s (maximum speed
Figure 3. Schematic of lattice mast configuration averaged over an interval of 1 hour).

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 JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR SHELL AND SPATIAL STRUCTURES: J. IASS
Figure 4. Cross section of mast showing definition of wind
directions: (a) wind at 0, (b) wind at 60, and (c) wind at
900
Because of the inherent non-linear behavior of tall
guyed mast, geometric non-linearity was included
in the finite element analysis procedure. The
analysis was performed in two steps. In the first
step the gravity loads resulting from the self-weight
of the mast in addition to the forces due to the
prestressing in the cables, were applied and
equilibrium was achieved. In the second step the
load of extreme wind was considered acting, taking
in consideration the conditions of tension-
deformation of the first step.
To obtain the internal forces under wind load an
equivalent static method denominated Patch Load
was applied to the mast. This method was
introduced in the year 1981 by the
recommendations of the IASS [14] for the design
and analysis of guyed masts and perfected later in
investigations carried out by Davenport and
Gerstoft [15] and Sparling [16]. The method uses a
series of static load patterns to approximate the
effects of turbulent wind [17].
The analysis is undertaken in two stages, with the
mean wind load effects considered separately from
the fluctuating load effects. In the first stage of the
analysis, the mean component of the wind load was
applied and a nonlinear analysis was performed to
determine the mean equilibrium position of the
guyed mast. The mean equilibrium position of the
mast was determined using an iterative Newton-
Raphson solution technique. The design peak
response r may be expressed as:
r r rPL (1)
where: r is the design peak response, r is the
mean response component and rPL is the peak
fluctuating response
The fluctuating response rPL was obtained as a
series of static analysis for different stages of
loading, taking in consideration the static stiffness
properties of the system calculated at the mean
equilibrium position. These static load patterns
were applied to the mast in succession, with the
position and extent of the individual patterns as
described in [1]
Load patches required for the guyed mast of the
study are shown in figure 5.
Figure 5. Application of patch loads
The design fluctuating response rPL from Eq. (1) is
determined by the expression:
rPL rPL . B . R .TL .g (2)
in which: rPL is the resultant patch load response,
due to individual load patches combined as the root
sum of squares, B is the background scaling
factor, R is the resonant magnification factor,
TL is the turbulent length scale factor, g is a
statistical peak factor. In this study the scaling
factors are:
B 0.75 , R 1.2 , TL 1.05 and g 4 .
3. ANALYSIS RESULTS
3.1 Analysis of guys
The guys tensions under wind loads were obtained
for the four guyed mast models with different
prestressing forces. In the following the leeward
and windward guys tensions for 00 wind loads
direction (perpendicularly to one of the faces) are
used for the graphical presentations. It could be
observed that tension at the leeward guys decrease
until they reach a point with no tension. This point
is reached at 30% of the design wind load for the
model with the lower prestressing force (5%) while
the model with higher prestressing (20%) this point
is reached at 60% of the design wind load. Up this
point, guys tensions raise due to wind forces acting
on the cable (figure 6). At the windward guys,
under total design wind load, there was not
perceived an increase of tension proportional to the
increase of the initial tension of guys (figure 7).
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 Vol. 53 (2012) No. 2 June n. 172

Leeward Cables with 5% of Initial 3.2 Analysis of elements of the mast

Tension
70 Finite element model (FEM) analysis was
Level 7
60
Level 6
performed using SAP 2000 v.12 in order to obtain
50
the internal forces for the four models. Members of
Guy Tension

Level 5
40
Level 4
the mast with maximum stress have been selected at
30
Level 3
any wind direction. Maximum stresses were
20
Level 2 obtained for 00 wind direction according to figure 4.
10
Level 1
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Values of the maximum axial force obtained at
Wind Load (% of max) critical elements of each group of members: legs,
diagonals, and horizontals members, cables and
Leeward cables with 20% of Initial supports reactions were processed. Figure 8, 9, 10
Tension and 11 shows the axial force at critical members for
70
Level 7 different initial guys tension. It could be observed
60
Level 6 that tension of the guys between 10% and 20 %
50
produced irrelevant changes in final axial forces at
Guy Tension

Level 5
40
Level 4 diagonals and horizontal members while legs axial
30
Level 3 forces decrease up to 33%
20
Level 2
10
Level 1
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Legs
Wind Load (% of max) -1000
-900
Figure 6. Tension on leeward guys under wind load for 5% -800
Axial Force (kN)

and 20% of initial tension -700

-600
Windward Cables with 5% of Initial -500
Tension -400
180
Level 7
-300
160
-200
140 Level 6
-100
Guy Tension

120
100
Level 5
0
Level 4
80 5% 10% 15% 20%
60 Level 3
40 Level 2 Initial Guy Tension
20
Level 1
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Figure 8. Axial force in legs for 00 wind direction
Wind Load (% of max)

Windward cables with 20% of Initial Diagonals

Tension -70
180 -60
Axial Force (kN)

Level 7
160
-50
140 Level 6
120
-40
Guy Tension

Level 5
100 -30
Level 4
80 -20
60 Level 3

40
-10
Level 2
20 0
Level 1
0 5% 10% 15% 20%
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
WindLoad(%ofmax) Initial Guy Tension
Figure 7. Tension on windward guys under wind load for
5% and 20% of initial tension Figure 9. Axial force in the diagonals for 00 wind direction

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 JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR SHELL AND SPATIAL STRUCTURES: J. IASS

Lack of tension at leeward guys produces an

Horizontals
120 increase of displacements of the mast in the
Axial Force (kN)
100 direction of the wind. In figure 12 the
80
displacements along the height of the mast are
shown, under the action of the extreme wind and
60
with different guy tension. It can be observed that at
40
lower tension of the guys, displacements of the
20
mast are increased due to the loss of lateral rigidity
0 of the structure.
5% 10% 15% 20%
Initial Guy Tension
120
Figure 10. Axial force in the horizontals for 00 e wind
direction
100
Supports Reactions

Heights (m)
1200 80
5%
Axial Force (kN)

1000
800 60 10%
600 15%
400 40 20%
200
0
20
5% 10% 15% 20%
Initial Guy Tension 0
Figure 11. Support reactions of the mast for 0 wind 0 2,5 2 1,5 1 0,5 0
direction Displacements (m)
It was observed a direct relation between increases Figure 13. Displacement of the mast for 00 wind direction
in the initial tension of the guys and decreases in the
compression axial force in legs near the base of the It was realized that changes in the initial tension of
mast. At higher levels of the mast this effect does guys affect the natural frequency of the mast.
not produce variations (figure 12). Fundamental period of oscillation of the mast was
decreased with lower initial tension of guys,
120 conversely tensions between 10% and 20% of the
breaking load, barely showed changes at
100 fundamental period of the mast (Table 3).

Table 3 Effect of the initial guy tensions on the natural

80 frequencies of guyed mast
Heights (m)

Fundamental Natural Frequency (Hz)

60 5%
10% initial guy tension as % of the breaking strength
40 15%
20% 5% 10% 15% 20%
1,2 1,4 1,4 1,5
20
4. CONCLUSIONS
0
-1200 -900 -600 -300 0
The results of this investigation show that the loss
of guy tension can produce an increase of axial
Axial Force (kN) forces in the leg members of the mast under wind
Figure 12. Maximum axial force in the legs of the mast load. For diagonals and horizontal members,

115
 Vol. 53 (2012) No. 2 June n. 172
variations of guy tension do not correspond to
significant variations of axial forces.
Eigen-value analysis performed on guyed mast
models with different guy tension showed that
increments of prestressing force of the cables
generate an increment of the natural frequency of
the mast; therefore a variation on the structural
response to dynamic loads is expected.
REFERENCES
[1] British Standards Institution, Lattice
towers and masts Part 4: Code of practice
for loading of guyed mast, BS 8100-4:1995.
London, UK; 1995.
[2] Canadian Standards Association,
Antennas, towers, and antenna supporting
structures, CSA S37-01. Rexdale, Canada;
2001.
[3] Telecommunications Industry Association,
Structural standards for Steel Antenna
Towers and Antenna Supporting
Structures, TIA/EIA-222-G. EUA; 2005.
[4] Kahla N. B., Dynamics of a single guy
cable. Computers and Structures, Vol. 54,
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[5] Mifitano G., Computer - Aided Free
Vibration Analysis of Guyed Towers.
Department of Civil and Geological
Engineering, University of Manitoba, 2000.
[6] Madugula M. K. S. Dynamic Response of
Lattice Tower and Guyed Mast. Virginia,
USA; 2002.
[7] Di Pilato M., Martelli F., Martinelli L.
Corotational cable elements to model
suspended cables under wind loading. 5th
European & African Conference on Wind
Engineering, Florence, Italy: 2009.
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Newtons method. Department of Civil
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[10] Lo A. Nonlinear dynamic analysis of cable
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[11] Hassen Kewaisy T. Nonlinear dynamic
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[14] International Association of Shell and
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[16] Sparling B.F., The dynamic behavior of
guys and guyed masts in turbulent winds,
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