Response of composite insulators to dynamic mechanical loads

Four types of composite insulator made with the two most commonly used end fitting designs have been subjected to dynamic mechanical loads. It was found that a combination of dynamic flexion and static tension loads had a more severe effect on the insulators than pulsed tension loads, which in turn were more severe than static tension loads. The design of the end fitting has a significant influence on the response of the insulator to dynamic loads. The results also indicate that it may be more relevant for a user to select composite insulators on the basis of their performance under dynamic loads than under static tension loads