Principal Research Results

Geometric Nonlinear Analysis of Transmission Line Galloping

Background
Galloping is the wind-induced self-excited motion of ice-coated overhead transmission lines. It is known that galloping
causes such serious transmission problems as short circuits due to the entanglement of lines, snapping of the line-to-line spacers and
the breakage of transmission towers. In view of the past absence of practical simulation methods to investigate the phenomenon of gal-
loping and the effects of anti-galloping devices, the CRIEPI has developed a three-dimensional FEM program, CAFSS, which takes
the aerodynamic properties as well as geometrical non-linearity of ice-coated transmission lines into consideration.

Objectives
To confirm that galloping can be simulated using CAFSS suitable for the structural analysis of transmission towers and ca-
ble systems and to verify the effects of a line-to-line spacer which is regarded as the most effective anti-galloping device by numerical
simulation.

Principal Results
Using CAFSS, the wind response analysis of double conductor transmission lines was conducted, taking into consideration
uniform as well as turbulent horizontal wind forces and aerodynamic characteristics of a mock ice-coated conductor’s cross-section.
As a result, self-excited motion was simulated in the vertical direction and it was confirmed that the geometric non-linear analysis of
galloping can be conducted by CAFSS (Figs. 1, 2 and 3).

In addition, galloping simulation on three-phase double conductors with line-to-line spacers was conducted using the installation posi-
tion of the spacers as a parameter and it was shown that the axial forces and moments of line-to-line spacers can be reasonably esti-
mated.

Accordingly, it was verified that CAFSS can be used to investigate not only the galloping phenomenon under various structural and
aerodynamic conditions but also the effects of anti-galloping devices.

Future Developments

To conduct several galloping simulations under various analytical conditions in order to clarify the characteristics of the galloping
phenomenon and to estimate the effects of anti-galloping devices in detail and to improve the precision of CAFSS by comparing ex-
perimental measured data with actual data.

Main Researcher: Mikio Shimizu

Senior Researcher, Structure Department, Abiko Research Laboratory

References
• M. Shimizu,“Analytical Study on Aeroelastic Vibration of Cables - Simulation of Double Conductor Transmission Lines’
Galloping by FEM,” CRIEPI Report No. U97079, March, 1998 (Japanese only)
• M. Shimizu and J. Sato, Analysis of Transmission Tower and Cable System’
s Sleet Jump, Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol.
43B, pp. 403 - 413, March, 1997 (Japanese only)
• M. Shimizu, M. Shugo and J. Sato, Geometric Non-Linear Analysis of Transmission Line Galloping, Journal of Structural
Engineering, Vol. 44A, pp. 951 - 960, March, 1998 (Japanese only)

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 4. Power Transmission and Energy Storage - Disaster Prevention Measures for Electric Power Facilities

Solution Newmark-β method Drag

Lift
Usable truss (taking account of torsional displacement) Moment
element beam Conductor velocity
Wind velocity reference line
unknown variable displacement
Formulation Relative wind velocity
reference coordinate updated-Lagrange system ＊ positive in
counterclockwise
Large deformation taking account of geometrical nonlinearity
Increment ana-
lytical method Newton-Raphson method
accreted ice cross section of
Wind force quasi-steady wind force conductor
Structural damping Rayleigh damping
Shear center
Wind force acting point
Inclination of relative wind velocity
Angle of attack
Torsional displacement of conductor

“CAFSS” is a time domain 3-dimensional FEM program, which supports truss and beam elements and can take account of quasi-
steady wind force as well as geometrical nonlinearity.

Fig. 1 Characteristics of “CAFSS” and cross section of ice-coated transmission line

1
Drag force ： FD= 2 ρadC（θ）
D ν2r
CL,CM

1
CD

Lift force ： FL= 2 ρadC（θ）

L ν2r

1
Moment force ： FM= 2 ρad 2CM（θ）
ν2r

angle of attack θ
As the aerodynamic property, wind force coefficient of drag {CD(q)}, lift {CL(q)} and moment {CM(q)} obtained in the wind tun-
nel test on a mock ice-coated transmission line can be used. Quasi-steady wind forces per unit length of the line are employed
as upper equations, in which ρa is the air density, and d is the diameter of the line.
Fig. 2 Aerodynamic property of mock ice-coated transmission line and wind forces

← double conductor model

（span: 350 m,sag ratio: 3%,initial tension: 2 tf/line,rigid supports）
displacement at mid-span

displacement at mid-span

horizontal displacement uniform wind force horizontal displacementturbulent wind force

vertical displacement vertical displacement

time(sec) time(sec)

Fig. 3 shows calculated time-history responses of displacement at the mid span of double conductor transmission line model un-
der uniform and turbulent horizontal wind force. It can be seen that the self-exited motion is well simulated in vertical direction.
Fig. 3 Double conductor model and simulation result (wind velocity 10 m/s)

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