Damping properties of non-conductive composite materials for applications in power transmission pylons

This study aims to characterize the fibre direction dependent damping properties of non-conductive composite materialsto be used in newly designed electrical power transm°ission pylons, on which the conducting cables will be directlyconnected. Thus, the composite structure can be designed both to insulate and to act as a damper to avoid for exampleconductor line galloping.

In order to predict the damping of the composite materials, a comprehensive analysis on arepresentative unidirectional laminate was carried out. The fibre direction dependent damping analysis of glass andaramid reinforced epoxy and vinylester, partly reinforced with nanoclay or fibre-hybridized, was investigated using aDynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis and a Vibrating Beam Testing procedure for five different fibre orientations (0°, 30°, 45° , 60° and 90°).

The focus was on damping behaviour evaluation at low temperatures (-20 C and 0 C) and lowvibration frequencies (0.5 Hz, 1 Hz and 2 Hz), in order to represent the environmental conditions of vibrating conductorlines during. The prediction of the damping behaviour for coupon-level-specimens with three balanced laminates wassuccessfully carried out with a maximal deviation of maximal 12.1 %.