Wind Drag Coefficients for Octagonal Cylinders

Details

• Creators:
  Mehta, Kishor C. ; Ritchie, David L. ; Oler, Walt
• Corporate Creators:
  Texas Tech University
• Corporate Contributors:
  Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Wind
  • Coefficients
  • Aerodynamic force
  • Cross sections
  • Design
  • Drag
  • Luminaires
  • Sign supports
  • Signals
  • Structural supports
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FWHA/TX-90
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Final Report
• Corporate Publisher:
  Texas Tech University. College of Engineering
• Abstract:
  Highway signs, luminaires, and traffic signal structures are exposed to wind loads throughout their lives. The design of the cross section, thus the amount of material and method of fabrication, very often is controlled by wind loads. Improved definitions of wind loads using drag coefficients make luminaires not only more economical but also more reliable. The Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation sponsored a research project at Texas Tech University to determine drag coefficients for octagonal shaped luminaire supports. The research used the tow tank of the Mechanical Engineering Dept. at Texas Tech University for the experimental work. The experimental technique was verified using published data for circular cylinders. One of the innovations in the project was the use of actual industry manufactured luminaire poles as test specimens. These specimens matched the surface roughness and the geometric parameters of field poles. Drag coefficient values obtained in this project are about 25% higher than the ones currently specified in the AASHTO standard.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  11-5-89 -1207
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/86447/dot_86447_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.38 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:1ec134cae052576a0eed004cff4fc20932c247e14a626e5cbc03e47f15435e85f6adad3c97435e61ddbb814ece7821ed220866a85b56bae3fad38d926fdc1d77