PERFORMANCE OF SPUN PRESTRESSED CONCRETE POLES DURING HURRICANE ANDREW

A study to assess the performance of spun prestressed concrete poles during Hurricane Andrew is presented. Poles at locations in southern Dade County, Florida, where the storm was most severe, were inspected and found to be in good structural condition. Although the poles cracked and were subjected to high load levels that approached their ultimate strength, cracks appear to have completely closed and the poles maintained their elasticity. Six poles were removed from one site in Homestead for further analysis and for conducting full-scale testing. The testing provided insight as to the performance of spun prestressed concrete poles, their reserve strength, and serviceability behavior after being subjected to a major storm such as Hurricane Andrew. Estimated fastest-mile with speeds during the hurricane were also determined using different American standards and information developed in this study.