Structural stability and reliability of various designs of medium-voltage overhead-line constructions

In the Federal Republic of Germany, wooden poles, concrete poles, tubular steel poles and steel lattice towers are used for medium-voltage overhead power systems. For the selection of the pole or tower types, different criteria are applied whereby efficiency, aside from fulfillment of marginal technical conditions and questions with respect to operation, is an aspect of primary importance. The different common construction of the above-mentioned tower types will be illustrated and compared with each other. This includes a comparison of the poles´ mechanical properties such as material strength and elasticity as well as a comparison of the construction costs for the different construction methods. These comparisons are completed by estimates with respect to the service life of these different constructions on the basis of existing experience