Simplified transmission tower with circular steel tube posts: validation of structural efficiency and robustness

초록

This study evaluates the structural feasibility of a simplified lattice transmission tower designed in accordance with Korea's Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) standards. The proposed 69.3 m tall tower was developed through a three-step design process in which the inclination angle of the main posts was reduced and the number of secondary members was optimized to minimize the installation footprint while maintaining structural safety. Nonlinear finite element analyses were conducted to investigate the load-carrying capacity and failure mechanisms of the simplified tower, and full-scale experimental validation was performed under ten load combinations. The results showed that the simplified tower withstood approximately 150% of the design load while achieving a 12.1% reduction in structural weight and a 54.7% reduction in footprint area compared with the reference model. These findings indicate that the proposed configuration provides a compact and structurally efficient transmission tower design without compromising structural performance and demonstrates the feasibility of combining geometric simplification with experimental validation for practical transmission tower design. © 2026 Elsevier B.V.

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