Electric Transmission Tower Design

The design of electric transmission towers is a specialized branch of civil engineering requiring close cooperation with electrical engineers. The structural engineer is acquainted with procedures and practices peculiar to the design of high-voltage electric transmission towers. Considerations in establishing the tower configuration are set forth. Derivation of tower loads due to conductor, wind, ice, and dead load are described. A typical 500-kv tower is used to illustrate traditional tower design. A column curve substantiated by full-scale tower tests is presented. Several types of tower footings are illustrated and their relative merits discussed. Tower testing is discussed.