Research Digest Item 4 Special Studies for TxDOT Administration in FY 2009 UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN. CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH (CTR) CTR 6581-CT-1 • 2009 This research project was established by TxDOT's Research and Technology Implementation Office to address special studies required by the department's Administration during FY 2009. Five short-term, quick turnaround tasks were completed and are documented. Full-text PDF of this report is available for free download from http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/pdf_reports/0_6581_CT_1.pdf
Item 5 Full-Scale Controlled Tests of Wind Loads on Traffic Signal Structures TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY, (TECHMRT) TechMRT 4586-3 • 2008 The wind-induced vibrations of the mast arm of cantilever traffic signal structures can lead to the fatigue failure of these structures. For this project, both full-scale and wind tunnel tests were conducted to study the behavior of the structures. Results of these experiments indicated that when the signals have backplates, vortex shedding can cause large-amplitude vibrations that may lead to fatigue failure. These results contradict what has been generally accepted by other researchers: that galloping is the main cause for the fatigue inducing vibrations and that vortex shedding is of no relevance in this type of structure. Full-text PDF of this report is available for free download from http://www.depts.ttu.edu/techmrtweb/Reports/Complete%20Reports/0-4586-3_final.pdf
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