Rapid methods for transmission tower structural analysis and design

The electric transmission system power flow equations bear a striking similarity to force-displacement characteristics of pin-joint structures such as electrical transmission towers. In this paper, the structural analog to the electric power system equations is made in vector-matrix terms and contemporary techniques are applied for rapid analysis and design of transmission towers. In particular, the linearized power flow technique and the Kron reduction technique for impedance matrix modification are applied in order to radically increase the speed of analysis of transmission tower structures. The increase in speed and the nature of the problem formulation allows structural design techniques in reasonable digital processing times.