Progress toward Optimum Damping of Transmission Conductors

It is shown that the standard vibration damper installation using two torsional dumbbell dampers per span provides more damping than necessary, and that one torsional dumbbell damper per span, for span lengths up to 1,700 feet, with substantially reduced weights for the larger conductors, provides adequate protection against fatigue failure arising from aeolian vibration. The conclusions are supported by experimental data and by inspections of lines. The results of tests using one damper per span are compared with performance data of typical armor reinforcing rods.