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Testing Overview (USA)
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR LIFE ®
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A
CE AWARD WINNER
MO
ST CREATIV E APPLICATION
2005
COMPOSITESEXCELLENCE
AWARDS FOR
RS Technologies
[email protected]+1 877 219 8002+1 403 219 8000+1 403 219 8001
EmailToll Free PhoneFax
2421 – 37th Avenue NE, Suite 400Calgary, AB T2E 6Y7
www.RStandard.com
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1. Bending Tests -1.1HorizontalBendingTests....................................................................................................................... 2
2. Structural Tests -2.1PoleWallLoadingTests......................................................................................................................... 4 -2.2UVandWeatheringTests.................................................................................................................... 5
3. Electrical Tests -3.160HzVoltageDryFlashoverandWithstandTests.................................................................... 6 -3.260HzVoltageWetFlashoverandWithstandTests.................................................................. 6 -3.3LeakageCurrentMeasurements....................................................................................................... 7 -3.4DielectricTestsBeforeandAfterHumidityExposure.............................................................. 7 -3.560HzVoltagePunctureTests............................................................................................................ 7 -3.6FaultCurrentWithstandTests........................................................................................................... 7 -3.7ContaminationTests.............................................................................................................................. 8
4. Polyurethane Resin Tests -4.1VersionResinMaterialPropertiesandCharacteristics •4.1.1PolyurethaneResinMaterialPropertiesandCharacteristics............................. 9 •4.1.2PolyurethaneResinToughnessEvaluation.............................................................. 9 •4.1.3PolyurethaneResinImpactProperties..................................................................... 9 •4.1.4IzodImpactTest................................................................................................................ 9 •4.1.5UnnotchedImpactTest................................................................................................... 9 •4.1.6WaterAbsorptionTest.................................................................................................... 10 •4.1.7InterlaminarShearTest................................................................................................... 10 •4.1.8SpecificGravity.................................................................................................................. 10 •4.1.9IgnitionLossTest.............................................................................................................. 10 •4.1.10CoefficientofLinearThermalExpansion............................................................... 10 •4.1.11GlassTransitionTemperature...................................................................................... 10 •4.1.12SpecificHeat...................................................................................................................... 10 •4.1.13TensileFatigueTest......................................................................................................... 10 •4.1.14CreepTest........................................................................................................................... 11 -4.2VersionResinToughnessEvaluation............................................................................................... 11 -4.3VersionResinImpactProperties....................................................................................................... 11
5. Miscellaneous Tests -5.1PoleStepStaticLoadTest.................................................................................................................... 12 -5.2PoleStepDynamicLoadDropTests............................................................................................... 13 -5.3WindBlownSandTests........................................................................................................................ 16 -5.4FastMovingBrushFireTest............................................................................................................... 17
TestingOverview
Table of Contents
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1. Bending Tests
1.1
Hor
izon
tal B
endi
ng T
ests
1.1 Horizontal Bending Tests
Overview
ToevaluatethestrengthandbehaviorofRStandard®polesunderflexuralloading,RSperformsfull-scaledestructivetestingontheentirerangeofpolesizes.ThistestingwasoriginallyperformedbyEDMInternationalInc.(EDM)–arecognizedindustryleaderinthetestingandresearchofutilityproducts.Afterdevelopinganapprovedin-housetestingfacility,whichwasdesignedandconstructedtoEDM’sspecifications,horizontalbendingtestsarenowperformedatourtestfacilityinCalgary,Alberta,Canada(SeeFigure1fortestset-up).ThetestsetupandtestmethodisbasedontheASTMteststandard,ASTMD1036–StandardTestMethodsofStaticTestsofWoodPoles.Basedonthedatafromeachtest,RScandeterminepoleloadinganddeflectionlevelsthroughoutthebendingtest,uptoandincludingthepointoffailureifthetestwastakentodestruction.
Procedure
Apoleissecuredatthebaseandthegroundlinelocation,andahorizontalloadisappliedat2ft.[61cm]fromthepoletopuntilthedesiredloadordeflectionlevelisachieved,oruntilfailure.Eachtestbeginswithassemblingapoleinthetestingyard.Thepoleisassembledmodule-by-moduleusingcome-alongs,andthejointsaredrilledandboltedastheywouldbeinafieldinstallation.
Next,eitherabaseplateorwoodenbraceisinstalledinthebuttofthebasemoduletosimulatetheconstraintofthegroundduringembedment.Usingforklifts,thebaseofthepoleisthenloadedintothehorizontaltestframe.Topreventthepolefromsagging,thetipisstrappedintoawheeledsteelcartplacedtwo-thirdsofthewayupthepolefromthebase.
Figure 1: Horizontal bending test equipment
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Oncethepoleisloadedintothetestframe,itissecuredtotheframewithopposingstraps.Onestrapis
attachedatthebase,andthesecondisattachedtosimulatethegroundlinelocation.Thesestrapssecure
thepoleinthetestframetosimulatedirectembedmentconditions.Afterthepoleisstrappedintothetest
frame,measurementsaretakentodocumentwheretheloadwillbeappliedandwherethedeflectionwillbe
measured.SeeFigure2forpoleset-upprocedures.
Tomeasuredeflectionduringthetest,positiontransducers(deflectionsensors)areattachedatthetip,
groundlinelocationandbaseofthepole.Forthepurposeofthetest,thebaseofthepoleisassumedto
berigid.Thegroundlineandbasepositiontransducersprovidedataonhowmuchthebaseofthepole
shiftsinthetestframe(duetomovementinthetestfixtures,stretchinthestraps,etc).Thisdataallows
thetipdeflectiontobecorrected.
A12,000lb.[5,442kg]capacitywinchisthenconnectedtothepoleattheloadpoint2ft.4in.[61cm]
belowthenominaltip.Aloadcellin-linewiththewinchcablemeasurestheforcebeingappliedtothe
pole.Theloadcellandallthreepositiontransducersareintegratedintoadataacquisitionsystemwhich
recordsreal-timedatafromthesesensors.
Afterasafetycheckandwalk-aroundtoverifypropertestsetup,allbystandersareclearedfromthe
areaexceptfortestingpersonnelresponsibleforoperatingthedataacquisitionequipmentandthe
winchcontrols.Oncethetestingpersonnelarereadytobegin,aflashingstrobelightandsirenare
turnedontoalertpeopleoftesting-in-progress.Thewinchisswitchedonandthepoleistested.After
thetestiscomplete,thepoleisremovedfromthetestcellandtheload-deflectiondataisprocessed.
Figure 2: Setting up the pole
1.1
Hor
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tal B
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2.1 Pole Wall Loading Tests
Overview
AsFRPpolesbehavedifferentlythantheirwood,concreteandsteelcounterparts,guidelineshavebeendevelopedregardinghardwareattachments.RShascompletedanextensiveseriesofteststohelpdeterminethestrengthoftheRStandard®polewallunderavarietyofdifferentloadingscenarios.ThesetestswereperformedbyIntecinSeattle,WA–acompanythatspecializesintestingadvancedcompositematerialsandstructures.ThedatafromthistestinghasbeenusedtodevelopcomprehensiveguidelinesregardingtheapplicationofhardwareonRStandardpoles.
Procedure
Thistestingconsistedofsettingupavarietyofboltedhardwareconnectionsandtestingthemtofailure.Thiswasaccomplishedbysecuringpolesectionstoaloadframeandusinghydraulicactuatorstoapplyvariousloadcasestothecompositepolewall.Thistestingyieldedinformationaboutboltsizing,boltspacing,properloadpaths,bearingstrengthofholes,sizingandattachmentofloadspreaderplatesandwaystofield-modifyexistingconnectionstogainextrasafety.Figure11illustratesthetestset-up.
Figure 11: Pole wall loading test set-up
2.1
Pole
Wal
l Loa
ding
Tes
ts
2.0 Structural Tests
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2.2 UV and Weathering Tests
Overview
Overtime,unprotectedcompositeutilitypolescanbepronetoUVdegradationandweatheringeffects.Aromatic,non-UVstableresinsaretheprimaryresinusedtobindfiberstogetherincompositepoles.Discoloration,fiberbloomingandpotentialstructuraldegradationofthepolecanresultifaromaticresinisleftexposedandunprotected.
Tocombattheseeffects,RStandard®compositeutilitypolesoutermostlayersconsistofaliphaticformulatedpolyurethaneresin(i.e.solvent-freeisocyanate).ThisprovidestheexposedlayersofthepolewithsuperiorUV-stabilityandweatherresistantcharacteristics.Unlikeothercompositeutilitypoleswhichutilizeveilsorcoatings,thisouter-layerofaliphaticresinischemicallybonded(i.e.,cross-linked)withtheunderlyingaromaticpolyurethaneresin,anintegralpartofthepolewallandcannotbescratchedorflakedoff.
Todeterminethelong-termdurabilityandperformanceofthisprotectiveouterlayerofaliphaticresin,RShasundertakenalong-termchamberstudytosimulateUVexposure,moistureandhightemperatureeffects.RStandardsampleshavebeensubjectedto14,000hoursofacceleratedUV/weatheringexposurebyQ-LabWeatheringResearchService(Q-labs)inFlorida,USAinaccordancewithASTMStandardG154Cycle1.ThisexposuresimulatesshortwavelengthUVrays,whichistheformofUVthattypicallycausespolymerdegradationsuchasglossloss,strengthloss,yellowing,cracking,crazingandembrittlement.ThistestingalsoinvolvedauniquecondensationmechanismusedbyQ-Labstoreproducemoistureandsimulateoutdoorconditions.
AftercertainintervalsofacceleratedUVexposure,sampleswerevisuallyinspectedbyQ-LabsandsenttoRSforstructuraltesting.
Procedure
Sampleswerepreparedas1ft.x0.5ft.[0.35mx0.15m]sectionscutfromatypicalRStandardpolewallcross-section.Thesizeofthesampleswerecalculatedinordertoobtainanaverageoffourtestablespecimensforflexuralstrength,flexuralmodulusandinterlaminarshearstrengthaccordingtotheASTMStandardD790[6]andASTMD2344[7],respectively.Thetestspecimenswerecutfromtheexposedblock1in.[2.5cm]awayfromtheedgesnottohavetheedgeeffectontheresults.
AtQ-Labs,sampleswereexposedtoacceleratedUVlightusingUVA340nmlamps,equivalentto0.77W/m2[v1.0calibration],8hUVlight@140ºF[60ºC]and4hcondensation@122ºF[50ºC].TodateQ-Labshasprovidedvisualobservationreportsonsamplesinthefollowinghoursofexposure:500h,1,000h,2,000h,4,000h,6,000h,8,000,10,000h,12,000hand14,000h.
Asthesamplesarrivedaftereachdesignatedexposuretime,mechanicaltestswereperformedontheweatheredandUVexposedsamplesattheRStestlab.TheincludedASTMD2344flexuraltestingandASTMD2344interlaminarsheartesting.
2.2
UV
and
Wea
ther
ing
Test
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3. Electrical Tests
Overview
RShasundertakenavarietyofelectricaltestsonRStandard®polesthroughKinectrics–anindependenttestlaboratorylocatedinToronto,Ontario,Canadaspecializingintestingproceduresfortheutilityindustry.Thegoalofthesetestswastodeterminethedielectricandinsulatingpropertiesof
RStandardpolesinvariouselectricalexposuresituations.
3.1 60 Hz Voltage Dry Flashover and Withstand TestsThedryflashoverandwithstandtestswereperformedusingclauses4.2and4.4ofANSIC29.1asaguide.Thedrywithstandvoltageofthepolewasinitiallysettobe97%ofthedryflashovervoltagevalueandverifiedthroughtesting.Thedurationofthewithstandtestswasoneminute.Thetestwasrepeatedatalowerleveltoseeifaflashoveroccurredattheprevioustrialvoltage.Thetestindicated
thatunderdryconditions,RStandardpolesareagoodinsulator(SeeFigure12).
3.2 60 Hz Voltage Wet Flashover and Withstand TestsThewetflashoverandwithstandtestsinvolvedmountingRStandardpolesectionsinvertical,45degreeandhorizontalorientations.Thesamplesperformedinaccordancewithclauses4.3and4.5ofANSIC29.1witha1mm/minute[2.36in./hour]precipitationrateperclause9.1ofIECstandard60060-1(SeeFigure13).
Figure 12: 60 Hz Voltage Dry Flashover and Withstand Test
Figure 13: 60 Hz Voltage Wet Flashover and Withstand Test
Elec
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3.3 Leakage Current MeasurementsRStandard®polesmetandexceededtheleakagecurrentrequirementsofanapproved“hotstick”orinsulatedboom.ThemaximumleakagecurrentonanRSpolesectionwas54uAatavoltageof240kV
(SeeFigure14).
3.4 Dielectric Test Before and After Humidity ExposureBeforehumidityexposure,theRStandardsampleswereinitiallymeasuredformaximumleakagecurrentof50kVforoneminute.After168hoursofhumidityexposure,thesampleswereretested.Theresultsrevealednoflashovers,puncturesorvisualsignsoftracking(SeeFigure15).
3.5 60 Hz Voltage Puncture TestsThreetestswereconductedtoassessthedielectricpuncturestrengthofRStandardpolesusingpuncturevoltagelevelsof240kVand250kV.Theresultwasanaveragedielectricpuncturestrengthofapproximately774kV/in.[30kV/mm]ofwallthickness,basedonawallthicknessof0.32in.[8mm](SeeFigure16).
3.6 Fault Current Withstand TestsAseriesoftestswereperformedon#4and#2/0copperwires.Faultcurrentsof3.0kAto27.3kAwereappliedwithfaultdurationsvaryingfrom1/20secondsto4.5seconds.Additionally,conductortemperaturesof1,981°F[1,083°C]wereused.Undertheworstcasesustainedfaultcurrentthepolesurfaceexperiencedlimitedcharring,withnoapparentstructuraldamage(SeeFigure17).
Figure 14: Leakeage Current Measurements Test Figure 15: Dielectric Test
Figure 16: 60 Hz Voltage Puncture Test Figure 17: Fault Current Withstand Test
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3.7 Contamination TestsRStandard®wallsamplesweresubjectedtocontaminationlevelsupto240ug/cm2tosimulatecontaminationonaporcelaininsulator.Amixtureofsaltwaterandfineclaywasusedtoasthecontaminationmedia,whichdidnotadherewelltothepolewallduetothepole’sexcellenthydrophobiccharacteristics.Thetestshowedatleastthesameinsulationstrengthasporcelaininsulatorsunderthesameveryheavycontamination(SeeFigure18).
Summary of Key Findings Attained From Electric Tests: • Underthestandard“hotstick”test,RStandardpolesectionsaregoodorbetterthanahotstick orinsulatedboom;
• RStandardpoleshaveahighdielectricpuncturestrengthofapproximately774kV/in.[30kV/mm] ofwallthickness;
• Thepolesurfaceisveryhydrophobic,makingitdifficultforcontaminationstostick;and
• Intheeventahighfaultcurrenttravelsdownacoppergroundwire,thepolesurfacewill experiencenoadversestructuraleffects.
Figure 18: Contamination Test Surface and Chamber
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Poly
uret
hane
Res
in T
ests
4. Polyurethane Resin Tests
RStandard®polesaremanufacturedwithapolyurethaneresindevelopedbyRSTechnologies.Tounderstandthecapabilitiesofthepolyurethaneresin,RShasconductednumerousteststhroughtheAlbertaResearchCouncil,anindependentresearchtestinggroupbasedoutofEdmonton,Alberta,Canada.
4.1 Polyurethane Material Properties and Characteristics
Overview
AvarietyoftestswereperformedontheRSpolyurethaneresintoevaluateitsmaterialpropertiesandcharacteristics.ThesetestshavebeenusedtobetterunderstandthecapabilitiesoftheresinsystemusedinRStandardpoles.
Procedures
TodeterminethematerialpropertiesandcharacteristicsoftheRSpolyurethaneresin,thefollowingtestswereperformed:
4.1.1 Tensile TestThetensiletestwasconductedinaccordancewithASTMD3039.Thistestreportsthetensilestrengthandmodulus(stiffness)ofacompositematerialwithalignedfibersorientedinonedirection.
4.1.2 Flexural TestTheflexuralorbendingtestwasconductedinaccordancewithASTMD790,wherearectangularbeamofmaterialisendsupportedandloadedatitscenter.
4.1.3 Compression TestThecompressiontestwasconductedinaccordancewithASTMD695andBoeingSpecificationSupportStandardBSS7260.Tabbedtestspecimenswerepreparedforboththelongitudinaland
transversedirections.
4.1.4 Izod Impact TestTheIzodimpacttestwasconductedinaccordancewithASTMD256.Specimenswerepreparedforboththelongitudinalandtransversedirections.Theimpacttestspecimenswerenotched,usinganaircooledmillingmachine.Thenotchingprovidedthespecimenwithadamagesiteforcrackingcausedbyimpact,soitisfeltbysometobeamorerepresentativetestforratingtheimpactpropertiesofarealmaterial.
4.1.5 Un-notched Impact TestTheun-notchedimpacttestwasconductedinaccordancewithASTMD4812.Thisisaclean,polishedspecimenwithnoobviousplaceforanimpact-generatedcracktostart.Specimenswerepreparedforboththelongitudinalandtransversedirections.
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Poly
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4.1.6 Water Absorption Test
ThewaterabsorptiontestwasconductedinaccordancewithASTMD570-98.Six3in.x1in.[7.6cmx2.5cm]testspecimenswereobtainedfromeachsamplematerialandwereevaluatedinaccordancewith:(a)24hourimmersionatambienttemperatures,(b)Long-termimmersionatambienttemperatures,and(c)Immersionat122°F[50°C].
4.1.7 Interlaminar Shear Test
TheinterlaminarsheartestwasconductedinaccordancewithASTMD2344.Specimenswerepreparedforboththelongitudinalandtransversedirections.Thetestisconductedonaveryshortendsupportedbeamwithabendingforceappliedtoitscenter.Shearbetweenthelaminaofthe
compositedominates,generatinginterlaminarshearstresses.
4.1.8 Specific Gravity
SpecificgravitydeterminationswereperformedinaccordancewithASTMD792–TestMethodA.
Thespecificgravityisamethodofstatingthedensityofthematerial.
4.1.9 Ignition Loss Test
Ignitionlossgeneratestheamountoffiberinacompositesampleonaweightpercentagebasis.TheignitionlosstestswereperformedasperASTMD2584-02.Eachsamplewastestedintriplicate,withtheaverageresultbeingreportedastheignitionloss(glasscontent).
4.1.10 Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion
Thecoefficientofthermalexpansionishowmuchamaterialexpandsforadegreeoftemperaturerise.ThemethodusedfordeterminingthecoefficientoflinearthermalexpansionwasASTME831-00.Theexpansioncoefficientwasmeasuredforeachdirection(length,width,andthickness).Theexpansion
coefficientswerecalculatedforthetemperaturerangeof32°F[0°C]to392°F[200°C].Theinstrument
usedforthedeterminationswasaTAInstrumentsTMA2940thermomechanicalanalyzer.Theanalyseswere
performedatasampleheatingrateof41°F/minute[5°C/minute]from-22°Fto401°F[-30°Cto205°C].
4.1.11 Glass Transition Temperature
Theglasstransitiontemperatureisthetemperatureatwhichthematerialundergoesamoleculararrangementchange.Itshowsupasaslightchangeindensity,modulus,andthermalexpansion.GlasstransitiontemperaturedeterminationswereperformedinaccordancewithASTME1640-94.TheinstrumentusedforthedeterminationswasaTAInstrumentsDMA983dynamicmechanicalanalyzer.Sampleswererunfromambienttemperatureto257°F[125°C].
4.1.12 Specific Heat
ThespecificheatistheamountofheatperunitofmassrequiredtoraisethetemperaturebyonedegreeCelsius.ThespecificheatwasmeasuredinaccordancewithASTME1269usingthedifferential
scanningcalorimeter(DSC).Thespecificheatvaluesareusedtocalculatethethermalconductivity.
4.1.13 Tensile Fatigue Test
ThetensilefatiguetestsareperformedinaccordancewithASTMD3479.Thespecimensaresubjectedtotension-tensioncyclicloadingwithupperrangevaryingfrom40-90%andalowerrangeof10%.Thenumberofcyclestofailureisrecorded.Thefrequencyoftheloadingrangesfrom2-4Hzdependingontheloadingrange.
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4.1.14 Creep Test
ThecreeptestisaflexuralcreepandwasperformedinaccordancewithASTMD2990.Theflexuralcouponsareendsupportedandloadedinthemiddlewithloadsthatcorrespondtoapercentageofthefailurestress.Therangeofloadshavebeenfrom90%to45%offailurestress.Thetimetofailureisrecorded,ifthespecimendoesnotfailthetestisterminatedafteraminimumof3,600hours.
4.2 Polyurethane Resin Toughness Evaluation
Overview
AvarietyofmechanicaltestshavebeenperformedontheRSpolyurethaneresintodetermineitstoughness.Thistestingwasperformedonthepolyurethaneresinandanalternativeiso-polyesterbasedresintocomparethetoughnessofeachresinsystem.ThiscomparisonisrelevantforanalyzingtheperformanceofRStandard®poles,whichutilizeapolyurethanesystem,becausepolyester-based
resinsarecommonlyusedinothercompositeutilitypolesonthemarket.
Procedures
Fivemechanicaltestswereusedtoevaluatetoughness:
(a) TensiletestbasedonASTMD638M;
(b) IzodimpacttestbasedonASTMD256;
(c) Fallingweightimpacttestatspeedsof4.92ft./sec[1.5m/sec],9.84ft./sec[3m/sec]and16.4ft./sec[5m/sec],usingInstronDynatup8250H;
(d)ModeIdoublecantileverbeam(DCB)testbasedonASTMD5529-94a;and
(e) ModeIIend-notch-flexure(ENF)testbasedonEuropeanStructuralIntegritySociety(ESIS) protocolspublishedin1993.
TheresultsshowthattheRSpolyurethaneresinistougherthantraditionaliso-polyesterbasedresin,especiallyindelaminationresistanceunderimpactloading.
4.3 Polyurethane Resin Impact Properties
Overview
AvarietyofmechanicaltestshavebeenperformedontheRSpolyurethaneresintodetermineitsimpactproperties.Thistestingwasperformedonthepolyurethaneresin,apolyesterresin,avinylesterresinandepoxy.Duetocostlimitations,polyurethaneandpolyesterarethemainresinsystemsusedformanufacturingcompositeutilitypoles.Epoxyresinsarecostprohibitiveforutilitypoles,andaretypicallyreservedforhighperformanceapplications.
Procedures
Thetestsperformedincluded:
(a) Interlaminarshear;
(b) Izodimpactnotched/unnotched;and
(c) Transversetensilestrength.
TheseseriesoftestsindicatedthattheRSpolyurethaneresinhasasignificantimpactperformanceimprovementoverpolyesterresins.Thesetestsalsoindicatedthatimpactperformanceofthepolyurethaneresinisgood,butnotbetter,thanepoxyandvinylesterresins.
Poly
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5. Miscellaneous Tests
5.1 Pole Step Static Load Test
Overview
TocertifythestaticloadcapabilitiesoftheSeniorIndustriesSI-0040climbingstep,aclimbingoptionrecommendingbyRS,SeniorIndustrieshasperformedaseriesofstaticloadtestsonanRStandard®compositepolesection.
SeniorIndustriesperformedtwoteststoevaluatethestaticloadcapabilitiesoftheSI-0040climbingstepasusedonanRStandardcompositepole:
(a)Downwardforceof750-1,100lbs.[340-499kg],startingfrom0lbs.;and
(b)Downwardforceto2,500lbs.[1,134kg],startingfrom0lbs.
Procedure
BothtestsinvolvedmountingaSI-0040climbingsteptoatestfixture,whichwasthenassembledontoaTinius-OlsenTensiletester.Thetensiletesterisdesignedtosimulateloadsatarateofnomorethan3in./minute.
Sample1:
TheTinius-OlsenTensiletesterwasappliedtothestep,installedintoanRStandardpolesection(1in.[2.5cm]installationhole),withadownwardforceto750-1,100lbs.[340-499kg]startingfrom0lbs.Achainwasplaced5in.[13cm]fromthepolesection,within1in.[2.5cm]ofthepolestepend.Sample1heldforcewithlessthan1in.[2.5cm]deformationperSeniorIndustriesqualificationstandardonthestependwherethepressurewasapplied,withpermanentdeformationof1/4in.[0.6cm]occurringbetween1,000and1,100lbs.[454and499kg].Thepolewalldisplayednosignsofdamageorfatigue.
Sample2:
TheTinius-OlsenTensiletesterwasappliedtothestep,installedintoanRStandardpolesection(1in.[2.5cm]installationhole)withdownwardforceto2,500lbs.[1,134kg]startingfrom0lbs.Achainwasplaced5in.[13cm]fromthepolesection,within1in.[2.5cm]ofthepolestepend.Sample2wasbentdownward2in.[5cm]onthestependwherethepressurewasapplied.Thepolewalldisplayednosignofdamageorfatigue.
Summary
Ineveryvariationofthestaticloadtesting,thecombinationoftheSeniorIndustriesSI-0040climbingstepandtheRStandardutilitypolewasfoundtoconsistentlyperformwellunderloadsfromtheTinius-OlsenTensiletester.Aftereverytest,thepolesectionwasfoundtobeundamaged.
5.1
Pol
e St
ep S
tatic
Loa
d Te
st
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5.2 Pole Step Dynamic Load Drop Tests
Overview
TocertifythefallarrestcapabilitiesoftheSeniorIndustriesSI-0040climbingstep,aclimbingoptionrecommendingbyRS,avarietyofdynamicloaddroptestswereperformedonthepolestepsandRStandard®poles.ThesetestswereperformedinEdmonton,Alberta,CanadaatthetestfacilityofAltalink–anAlbertabasedutility.Thetestsweredesignedtosimulateasituationwhereautilityworkerfallsfromapolewhileclimbingorworkingonthepoleandtheirbeltorotherfallprotectionequipmentcatchesonaclimbingstep.
Altalinkcarriedoutthreevariationsofthesetests:
(a) A220lb.[100kg]weightdroppedatadistanceof2.3ft.[0.7m]fromthetipofasinglestep underambienttemperatureconditions(repeated3times);
(b)A220lb.[100kg]weightdroppedatadistanceof2.3ft.[0.7m]fromthetipofasinglestep underextremecoldtemperatureconditions(repeated3times);and
(c) A220lb.[100kg]weightdroppedatadistanceof4.6ft.[1.42m].Theweightwasconnected totheattachmentpointsofapoleclimbingstrap,whichhadbeenloopedaroundthepole abovetwoopposing,offsetsteps(performedonce).
Procedure
A5ft.[1.5m]RStandardpolesectionwasmountedonasteelI-Beamapproximately16.4ft.[5m]abovetheground(SeeFigure19).Thisconfigurationwasusedforalltests.Priortoeachtesttheweightstackwashoistedtoapre-determinedheightusingtheropeandpulleysystemandsecuredinplace.Alloftheambientandcoldtemperaturedroploadtestsusedthesame0.75in.[19mm]drillholeforinstallingthesamplesteps.Thisholewaslocated23in.[584mm]fromthetopofthepolesectionandwasinspectedfordamagebetweeneachtest.ThetestsetupcanbeseeninFigure20.
Figure 19: Pole section mounting5.
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Test Method I – Dropped Load at Ambient Temperature Ambient temperature: 77°F [25°C] Drop Height: 2.3 ft. [0.7 m] Forthedroppedloadtestatambienttemperaturea4ft.[1.2m]steelcablewitheyehooksoneachendwasconnectedfromtheweightsacktothetipoftheinstalledclimbingstep.Theeyehookwassecuredtothestepwithtapetopreventslippage.SeeFigure21forpolestepresultsafterambienttemperaturetest.
Test Method II – Dropped Load at Extreme Cold Temperature Ambient temperature: 77°F [25°C] Drop Height: 2.3 ft. [0.7 m] Time out of cooler: sample 1 = 1 min 05 sec; sample 2 = 1 min 13 sec; sample 3 = 0 min 47sec
Forthisdroppedloadtest,meanttosimulateanextremecoldweathersituation,eachstephadbeenheldinacoolerofdryicefornearlyaweekpriortothetest.Thecoolertemperaturewasmeasuredtobelessthat-58°F[-50°C].Otherwise,theprocedurewasidenticaltothatdescribedinTestMethodI.
SeeFigure22forpolestepresultsaftercoldweathertest.
Figure 20: Ambient and cold temperature drop test setup
Figure 21: Ambient drop test results
Figure 22: Cold weather drop test results
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Test Method III – Dropped Load Test With Pole Climbing Strap Ambient temperature: 77°F [25°C] Drop Height: 4.7 ft. [1.42 m]
Thistestwasmeanttosimulatealinespersonworkingoverheadonapolewithclimbingstepsinstalledandusingastandardpoleclimbingstrap.Atypicalworkingscenariowasmeasuretodeterminetheworst-casedroppingdistanceiftheworkerwastofall.Thestepswereinstalledonopposingsidesofthepole,withtheleftsteplocated30in.[762mm]fromthetopofthepolesectionandtherightstepoffset18in.[457mm]belowthatinatypicalclimbingconfiguration.Thepolestrapwasloopedaroundthepolesectionabovetheupperstepandconnectedtotheweightstackwiththe2ft.[0.6m]steelcable(SeeFigure23).Afterwitnessingtheresultsofthefirstpolestraptest,itwasdeterminedthatfurthertestswerenotrequired.
Summary
Ineveryvariationofthedroppedloadtest,thecombinationoftheSeniorIndustriesSI-0040climbingstepandtheRStandard®utilitypolewasfoundtoconsistentlyperformwellundersignificantdynamicloads.Notonestepfailedwhenloadsweredroppedatambientorextremecoldtemperatures.Aftereverytestthepolesectionwasfoundtobeundamaged.
Figure 23: Pole strap test setup
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5.3 Wind Blown Sand Tests
Overview
Blowingsandisencounteredinallareasoftheworld.Productsneedtobetestedfortheirabilitytowithstandabrasionbyexposuretotheseconditions.SamplesofRStandard®polesweresubjectedtoblownsandtestingusingequipmentdesignedformilitaryapplicationsinharshclimates.ThistestingwascarriedoutatDaytonTBrown(NY)laboratoriesusingthemilitarytestspecificationMIL-STD-810.
Test Conditions
Air Speed 50 mph [80 km/h]
Temperature 140°F [60°C]
Relative Humidity < 2 %
Sand Concentration 2.15 g/m3
Test duration 90 minutes
Results
Appearance
RStandardsurfacesexposedtotheblownsandtestingweredulled,butshowednoindicationofabrasionwear.Minuteparticlesofsandwerelodgedinthesurfacecausingslightdiscolorationonthesurface.Lightbuffingofthesurfacerecoveredsomeoftheglossandreturnedthesurfacetoitsoriginalcolor.
Physical and Mechanical Properties ThetestedsamplesofRStandardpolessamplesshowednodegradationinphysicalpropertieswithin
therecordedstandarddeviations(seeFigure24).
Summary
RStandardcompositepolesamplesshowednoappreciablewearorpropertiesdegradationwhensubjectedtolimitedwindblownsandtesting.
Figure 24: Physical Properties of RStandard samples prior to and after testing.
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Density (g/cc) Density (g/cc) Void PercentActual StDev Actual StDev Actual StDev
Before 1.87 0.01 70.80% 0.65% 3.75% 0.45%After 1.88 0.02 71.30% 1.18% 3.99% 0.49%
Flexural Strength (MPa)
Flexural Modulus (GPa)
Interlaminar Shear Strength (MPa)
Actual StDev Actual StDev Actual StDevBefore 435 43 13.5 0.9 39.9 2.9After 428 67 14.0 1.5 41.5 1.1
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Density (g/cc) Density (g/cc) Void PercentActual StDev Actual StDev Actual StDev
Before 1.87 0.01 70.80% 0.65% 3.75% 0.45%After 1.88 0.02 71.30% 1.18% 3.99% 0.49%
Flexural Strength (MPa)
Flexural Modulus (GPa)
Interlaminar Shear Strength (MPa)
Actual StDev Actual StDev Actual StDevBefore 435 43 13.5 0.9 39.9 2.9After 428 67 14.0 1.5 41.5 1.1
5.4 Fast Moving Brush Fire Test
Overview
TosimulatetheeffectsofafastmovingbrushfireonRStandard®compositepoles,twosetsofpolesamplesweresubjectedtoflammabilitytestingmodeledaftertheCaliforniaDepartmentofForestryandFireProtection(DFFP)testingforfiresheltersurvivalrating.Thistestingsimulatedcontrolledburnswithtemperaturesupto2,012°F[1,100°C].
Procedure
TwoRStandard®polesamplesweresubjectedtotestingmodeledaftertheDFFP.Thistestingadheredtothefollowingconditions:
(a)27.6in.[70cm]standinggrass(or3in.[7.5cm]thickgrassmat);
(b)30°incline;and
(c)Uphillbreezeat9to12mph[15to20km/hr].
Theseparametersresultedincontrolledburnswithtemperaturesupto2,012°F[1,100°C],6.6to9.8ft.[2to3m]flamelengthsandaflamefrontmovingat9.8ft./sec[3m/sec].
Themovingbrushfirecreatedatemperatureprofile(seeFigure25below)thattheRSlabmodeledusingastationarytorchwithaflametemperatureof2,372°F[1,300°C].Thetorchwassetuptoproduceaflameintheverticaldirection.Athermocouplewirewasusedtomeasurethetemperatureoftheflameatspecificdistancesfromtheflametipinordertoexposethesamplepiecestosimilartemperaturesatthedurationsexperiencedinamovingbrushfire.Firesamplesofbotharomaticandaliphaticresinformulationsweretested.
Thepolesamplestestedwere:
•Aliphaticexteriorlayerswitharomaticinteriorlayers(regularproductionpole)
•100%aromaticlayers
Results
Figure 25: Comparison of temperature profiles 5.4
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FromtheinformationprovidedinFigure25,itcanbeseenthatthesamplestestedintheRSlabweresubjectedtoconditionsthat,metorexceededtemperaturesexperiencedduringtheDFFPcontrolledburntest.
Noneofthealiphaticexteriorpolesamplesignitedduringthetest.Thearomaticexteriorpolesdidigniteapproximately36secondsaftertheflamereachedthemaximumtemperature,buttheflamewasinconsistent,andeachsampleself-extinguishedassoonastheflamesourcetemperaturewasreducedbelow752°F[400°C].Itshouldalsobenotedthatthesearomaticexteriorpolesarenotthepolesproducedforusebyutilitycustomers.SeeFigure26forpicturesofbothaliphaticandaromaticsamples.
Summary
FromthesetestsitcanbeconcludedthatRStandard®compositeutilitypolescansurviveamovingbrushfireasdescribedbytheCaliforniaDepartmentofForestryandFireProtection.Thereissomecharringtothesurfaceofthepolebytheheateffects,butthedepthofthecharringisrestrictedtoadepthof0.02to0.04in.[0.5to1.0mm].Thecompositematerialbeneaththecharringappearstobeunaffectedbytheheat.
Figure 26: Aliphatic (left) and aromatic (right) exterior poles with non burned samples
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DisclaimerTheinformationcontainedhereinisofferedonlyasaguideforRStandard®polesandhasbeenpreparedingoodfaithbytechnicallyknowledgeablepersonnel.Thisdocumentisprovidedforinformationpurposesonly,andduetoongoingcontinuousimprovementeffortsbyRSTechnologiesissubjecttochangewithoutnotice.PleasecontactyourRSAccountExecutiveforupdates.
Dis
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“RStandard” and “Infrastructure For Life” are registered trademarks of Resin Systems Inc.*Disclaimer - The information contained herein is offered only as a guide for RStandard poles and has been prepared in good faith by technically knowledgeable personnel. This sheet is for information only and could be modified without notice. Printed in Canada.
For more information on this product contact:
TSX: RSRSTO V2.2
RS Technologies
[email protected]+1 877 219 8002+1 403 219 8000+1 403 219 8001
EmailToll Free PhoneFax
2421 – 37th Avenue NE, Suite 400Calgary, AB T2E 6Y7
www.RStandard.com