Plastic Tower Solves Radar Interference

by Paul A. Gossen, (A.M.ASCE), Project Director; Lev Zetlin Assoc., Inc., New York, N.Y.,
Richard L. Tomasetti, (Aff.M.ASCE), Sen. Vice-Pres.; Lev Zetlin Assoc., Inc., New York, N.Y.,


Serial Information: Civil Engineering—ASCE, 1976, Vol. 46, Issue 12, Pg. 46-48


Document Type: Feature article

Abstract:

A new nonmetallic tower section has been designed to eliminate major rador interference problems caused by a steel Radar Microwave Link tower. The replacement section is composed of a post tensioned columnar space truss with guys. No metal whatsoever is used in the 100-ft (30.5-m) tower section�� not even for the guys. Filament wound oval diagonals and undirectional wound horizontal ties of glass reinforced epoxy form the structural members. The oval diagonals are of special advantage structurally and electrically. The connections are composed of flat plates and simple moldings which allows a speedy assembly of the tower. This tower advances the state-of-the-art for structural plastics design. The system installed and tested has performed better than anticipated.

Subject Headings: Plastic design | Synthetic materials | Radar | Trusses | Tension members | Structural design | Steel

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