CONDUCTOR GALLOPING

TUTORIAL PRESENTED AT THE

B2 MEETING
HELSINKI, FINLAND, JULY 2007
by J-L. LILIEN & D.G. HAVARD

CIGRÉ B2 WG11
TASK FORCE ON GALLOPING

 CIGRE 2007
 What is ice galloping? Definition

Galloping is a motion with:

● Low-frequency
(from 0.1 to 1 Hz)
● Large-amplitude
(from ± 0.1 to < ± 1 times the
sag of the span)
● Up to 4 times the sag on
distribution lines
● Wind-induced vibration of
both single and
bundle conductors

● A single or a few loops of standing waves per span

● Ice or wet snow accretion on the conductors
● It is a self-excited phenomenon.

Lilien and Havard, TF B2.11.06 2

Lilien and Havard, TF B2.11.06 3
Lilien and Havard, TF B2.11.06 4
Lilien and Havard, TF B2.11.06 5
Lilien and Havard, TF B2.11.06 6
Lilien and Havard, TF B2.11.06 7
What is galloping ? : amplitudes

Left : Maximum observed amplitude versus

wind speed at Kasatori-Yama test line
Above: Frequency spectrum of galloping
motions
(Anjo et al 1974)
Bundle of 4x410 mm2 ACSR, two span section 312 and 319m, m = 6.7 kg/m,
subconductor diameter 26 mm, tension 123000 N/phase, sag at 0°C = 6.5 m
Lilien and Havard, TF B2.11.06 8
● Very thin ice shapes may induce galloping, particularly on single
conductor lines
● Thicker ice shapes may also induce galloping, particularly on
bundle conductor lines
● Ice density can be heavy, (glaze) or light (wet snow or rime)

Lilien and Havard, TF B2.11.06 9

 What is galloping : aerodynamics

f w = f L cos α + f D sin α

ϕ = ϑice + ϑ − α
Lilien and Havard, TF B2.11.06 10
 Den Hartog Mechanism

● Only aerodynamic forces are important

● Torsion is either negligible or forced by vertical
movement
● Torsional frequency and damping not important

● Probably rare, except for reverse wind

CD − CLα < 0

Lilien and Havard, TF B2.11.06 11

 Flutter Mechanism

ω ymax
(CD − CLα ) < CLα .ϑmax .sin φ
V ● Coupling between vertical and torsional
movement is central to the mechanism
● Torsion is essential for energy transfer to
vertical movement
● Structural data and aerodynamics
important
● Ratio vertical to torsional frequency
important
● Control of torsion by damping or detuning
is essential for control
● Probably the most common mechanism,
particularly on bundle conductor lines

Lilien and Havard, TF B2.11.06 12

 Damage due to Galloping (1 of 2)
Many galloping events cause no damage
Modest galloping causes:-
● Flashovers between vertically aligned phases
● Circuit outages and
● Burns of conductors

Conductor burns due to

galloping

Conductor fatigue Spacer damper broken

damage due to galloping due to galloping
Lilien and Havard, TF B2.11.06 13
 Damage due to Galloping (2 of 2)
Severe galloping causes:-
●Loosened bolts
● Separated Insulator strings
● Broken hardware
● Fatigued conductor strands
● Fractured tower members
Insulator string broken ● Cascades of line sections
during galloping
Dynamic galloping loads have
been measured at:
Up to 2 x vertical load and
Up to 2.9 x horizontal tension
Tower with lower arm
These need to be compared to
failed due to galloping
fatigue, not tensile, strength
Tower member broken
during galloping Lilien and Havard, TF B2.11.06 14
Control of Galloping (1 of 3)
No device completely
controls galloping
Clockwise from top right:
● Aerodynamically stable
conductor
● Rings and spirals
● Bundle modification Twisted pair conductor

Vertically
separated
bundles with
hoop spacers Rings and spirals to remove wet snow
Lilien and Havard, TF B2.11.06 15
 Control of Galloping(2 of 3)

Clockwise from top left:

● Rigid Interphase spacers

● Flexible interphase spacer
● Aerodynamic drag damper
● Air flow spoiler

Lilien and Havard, TF B2.11.06 16

 Control of Galloping (3 of 3)
Torsional devices clockwise from top right:
● Detuning pendulum for twin bundle
● Detuning pendulum for single conductors
● Torsional tuner and damper (GCD)
● Torsional damper and detuner (TDD)

Lilien and Havard, TF B2.11.06 17

Design Against Galloping (1 of 2)
● Common design method is elliptical
clearance envelope - based on 1930s
technology
● Vertical height based on multiple loop
galloping on long spans
● Assumes limited motions on short spans
● Field data on galloping show
deficiencies in assumed galloping motions
● Difference between galloping due to
glaze ice and wet snow needs to be
recognized
● Dynamic loads due to galloping are not
explicitly included
● Design approach needs updating based
on present knowledge
Lilien and Havard, TF B2.11.06 18
 Design Against Galloping (2 of 2)
● Field data on galloping due to
freezing rain are sufficient to
define maximum amplitudes of
motion on single and bundle
conductor lines.
● Single conductor data shown,
similar trend for bundle
conductors
● More data are needed for
galloping due to wet snow

Cable span parameter = 100 x diam / 8 x sag ● CIGRE could develop an

Fitted curve: A/d = 80 ln (8 x sag / 50 x diam) improved design procedure.

Lilien and Havard, TF B2.11.06 19

 Conclusions (1 of 2)
● Galloping on power lines may induce serious damage on
all parts
● Occurrences are difficult to predict because they depend
on the ice shape and density, wind speed and direction,
and dynamic structural properties, such as natural
frequency and stiffness of the conductor under the ice
and wind conditions
● Galloping is a complex aeroelastic instability

Lilien and Havard, TF B2.11.06 20

 Conclusions (2 of 2)
● Controls for preventing galloping are making progress
● The two mechanisms of galloping need different means of
prevention
● Different ice and wet snow conditions need different
treatment
● Single and bundle conductors need different treatment
● Design ellipses can be used for clearances and tower can
be designed to resist these exceptional events
● New information is available to update design clearances
for some conditions

Lilien and Havard, TF B2.11.06 21