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http://dx.doi.org/10.12989/was.2013.16.3.225

Wind tunnel studies of cantilever traffic signal structures  

Cruzado, Hector J. (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico)
Letchford, Chris (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)
Kopp, Gregory A. (Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering, University of Western Ontario London)
Publication Information
Wind and Structures / v.16, no.3, 2013 , pp. 225-240 More about this Journal
Abstract
The wind-induced vibrations of the mast arm of cantilever traffic signal structures can lead to the fatigue failure of these structures. Wind tunnel tests were conducted on an aeroelastic model of this type of structure. Results of these experiments indicated that when the signals have backplates, vortex shedding causes large-amplitude vibrations that could lead to fatigue failure. Vibrations caused by galloping were only observed for one particular angle of attack with the signals having backplates. No evidence for galloping, previously thought to be the dominant cause of fatigue failures in these structures, was observed.
Keywords
cantilevered traffic signal structures; fatigue; wind-induced vibrations; galloping; vortex shedding;
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