A tall tower tends to act as an energy storage device under the action of wind thereby letting the fluctuating wind forces cause the tower to move. This further makes the motions gradually build up for exchanging kinetic energy and stored elastic energy by swaying to and fro causing the pendulum effect. It generates potential fatigue damage and possibly collapses. The limit on these motions is set by the ability of the tower to dissipate energy faster than the rate at which the wind feeds energy in, through its damping ratio.

As a matter of fact

– The higher the damping ratio, the better it will be thereby making the wind load acts only on the center of each region.

– A support structure must also be very stable considering minimal deflections

– Break-away or failure mechanisms are independent of the strength required and must not be prone to premature fatigue failure

– Safety masts must be able to withstand wind load in normal conditions at maximum wind speeds of up to 40 m/s thereby maintaining stability.

– Verify the stability of an approach lighting system for a range of different mast heights.

– No permanent deformation of the structure should be allowed after the wind load.

– Any design using frangible mechanisms has to ensure that no change in shape or slippage occurs from cyclic loading.

– Stipulate the allowed deflection of approach lights as ±2° in the vertical axis and ±5° in the horizontal axis as per ICAO and the FAA

All these desired essentials have been taken as an opportunity by SGS Frangible Towers to start the design process with a high level of total damping and thus we fulfill these expectations with the help of frangibility induced innovative solutions that ensures –

• Materials and configurations for frangible structures are suitable for the intended use
• To meet frangibility requirements, the materials selected have a low modulus of toughness and are strong and lightweight
• Manufacturing of the lightest structure practicable with assigning the mass to the joint; the link element, hinge at the center and angle of the tower
• Minimum weight to ensure the least amount of energy expended to accelerate the mass to the speed of the impacting aircraft.
• Structures are fabricated from materials that are not adversely affected by outdoor environmental conditions.
• All materials withstand or be protected against temperature fluctuations
• corrosion (due to ice, sand, rain, snow, grit, etc.)
• weathering (salt spray, relative humidity, wind,)
• solar radiation
• vibration
• other encountered in the airfield environment
• Conclusion – SGS Frangible Towers

Since experience and knowledge always lead to better and best results so we started the design process with a deep insight into the environment and field which not only helps us in taking accurate assumptions but also in perfect installation and performance of our frangible structures especially towers. Ultimately, we offer desired stability; safety, strength, and frangibility to the towers for better airport operations and requirements and efficiently rises as a leading and innovative frangible structure designer and manufacturer globally and in India.