Wind-induced fatigue loading of tubular steel lighting columns

Two 12 m high tubular steel lighting columns have been instrumented to determine the wind-induced fatigue loading experienced by such columns. Each column supported a single luminaire mounted on a 0.5 m long bracket. One column was planted in soil, and the other bolted through a welded baseplate to a substantial concrete base. The columns were strain gauged just above the shoulder weld which connected the main shaft to the larger base tube. Forced vibration tests were undertaken to determine the natural frequencies and damping of the columns. Extensive recordings were made of response to winds with speeds from 4 m/s to 17 m/s. Selected records were analysed to obtain stress cycle counts and fatigue lives. Mean drag coefficients were also derived from the strain data to investigate experimentally the effect of Reynolds Number.