Modelling And Boundary Control Of Conductor Galloping

Abstract A distributed parameter model for wind induced "galloping" of overhead electric power lines is investigated. The partial differential equation obtained is a non-linear wave equation and numerical solutions are obtained using the method of characteristics. Galloping is observed to occur in this model only when the den Hartog criterion is satisfied. When it occurs, standing and traveling wave solutions are observed depending on the initial data, but the solution with maximum amplitude is obtained in the standing wave excited by purely sinusoidal initial data with a frequency equal to that of the fundamental mode of the linearized problem. The galloping solutions can always be damped to zero with imposition of an appropriate dissipative boundary condition at one end of the line. This may be thought of as arising from connecting a dashpot device of appropriate stiffness to the line at the pole. The stiffness required is independent of wind speed or length of the line.