Influence of Flexibility on the Fatigue Performance of the Base Plate Connection in High-Mast Lighting Towers

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of base connection geometry on base plate flexibility and the fatigue performance of multisided high-mast lighting towers. Three parametric studies investigating the effect of base plate thickness, tube wall thickness, and anchor rod configuration are discussed in this paper. The results of this study show that of the geometric parameters considered, base plate thickness has the largest influence on the stresses in the tube wall adjacent to the weld toe. By increasing the base plate thickness of the tower, significant improvement to the fatigue life is observed because the maximum stress, and hence stress range, at the base plate-to-tube wall thickness is reduced due to a reduction in local bending in the tube wall.