Conductor vibration damping

WIND-INDUCED VIBRATION of overhead conductors is inhibited by the use of Stockbridge dampers. Energy relationships are indicated by Fig. 1. Vibration amplitudes tend to increase until the rate of energy input from wind, Curve A, is balanced by the rate of mechanical-energy dissipation in vibration, Curve B. The function of dampers is to increase the total rate of dissipation, Curve C, so that equilibrium occurs at insignificant amplitudes. The best possible damping occurs when a damper can absorb vibration energy from the conductor at the maximum possible rate.