SYSTEM RELIABILITY-ANALYSIS OF TRANSMISSION-LINE TOWERS

Even though methods to estimate system reliability are being studied e xtensively, the practical inclusion of system reliability at the level of complex structures has not received much attention. In this paper, an attempt has been made to implement the system reliability theories and methods with respect to the transmission line tower using second- order bounding and equivalent linear safety margin approaches. The pap er also discusses important issues related to the non-linear force-def ormation behaviour of the tower members under buckling failure. The cr itical safety margins (failable members) are identified by automatic f ailure mode generation by matrix formulation with the aid of the membe r replacement technique. A complete computer program has been automate d to compute the reliability of transmission towers. Practical towers used to assess the reliability and illustrate the effectiveness of the methods lead to the adaptation of a system-based reliability analysis procedure.