Improving creep resistance and durability forecasting of Balau wood–PGFRP composite cross-arms using sleeve retrofitting for transmission towers
Cross-arms of high-voltage transmission towers are traditionally made from wood or pultruded glass fibre reinforced polymer (PGFRP) composites, but both materials face limitations in creep resistance and long-term durability. This study proposes a novel plug-in type SS304 stainless steel sleeve retr...
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Results in Engineering |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025020304 |
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| author | Vijayvignesh Namasivayam Sukumaar Mohamad Ridzwan Ishak Noorfaizal Yidris Norkhairunnisa Mazlan Muhammad Asyraf Muhammad Rizal |
| author_facet | Vijayvignesh Namasivayam Sukumaar Mohamad Ridzwan Ishak Noorfaizal Yidris Norkhairunnisa Mazlan Muhammad Asyraf Muhammad Rizal |
| author_sort | Vijayvignesh Namasivayam Sukumaar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cross-arms of high-voltage transmission towers are traditionally made from wood or pultruded glass fibre reinforced polymer (PGFRP) composites, but both materials face limitations in creep resistance and long-term durability. This study proposes a novel plug-in type SS304 stainless steel sleeve retrofit designed to enhance the mechanical performance and service life of Balau wood–PGFRP composite cross-arms under real-world operational loads. A comprehensive experimental program was conducted using four distinct loading configurations, three-point bending (3 PB), uniformly distributed load (UDL), uniformly varying load (UVL), and concentrated point load (CPL), across single main member cross-arm specimens. Mechanical deflection and long-term flexural creep tests were performed in accordance with ASTM D790 and D2990 standards. Results showed that the sleeve reinforcement improved instantaneous deflection and creep resistance by up to 62 % and 72 %, respectively. Among the loading types, CPL exhibited negligible influence on real-world failure modes, while UDL and UVL collectively replicated the effects observed under 3 PB, validating the 3 PB condition as the most representative for durability forecasting. Long-term prediction using Findley's power-law model revealed that the sleeve-reinforced cross-arm retained up to 85 % more stiffness after 50 years compared to the virgin composite and Balau wood counterparts. The proposed retrofitting method demonstrates significant potential for extending the service life of transmission tower cross-arms while enabling cost-effective maintenance and structural resilience. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b96520492ad248eeacaa7599875033bb |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2590-1230 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Results in Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-b96520492ad248eeacaa7599875033bb2025-08-20T02:37:45ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-09-012710595810.1016/j.rineng.2025.105958Improving creep resistance and durability forecasting of Balau wood–PGFRP composite cross-arms using sleeve retrofitting for transmission towersVijayvignesh Namasivayam Sukumaar0Mohamad Ridzwan Ishak1Noorfaizal Yidris2Norkhairunnisa Mazlan3Muhammad Asyraf Muhammad Rizal4Department of Aerospace Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Corresponding author.Department of Aerospace Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Aerospace Malaysia Research Centre (AMRC), Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Laboratory of Biocomposite Technology, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products (INTROP), Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Corresponding author at: Department of Aerospace Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.Department of Aerospace Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Aerospace Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Aerospace Malaysia Research Centre (AMRC), Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ION2), Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, MalaysiaEngineering Design Research Group, Faculty of Mechanical Engineeting, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia; Centre for Advanced Composite Materials (CACM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, MalaysiaCross-arms of high-voltage transmission towers are traditionally made from wood or pultruded glass fibre reinforced polymer (PGFRP) composites, but both materials face limitations in creep resistance and long-term durability. This study proposes a novel plug-in type SS304 stainless steel sleeve retrofit designed to enhance the mechanical performance and service life of Balau wood–PGFRP composite cross-arms under real-world operational loads. A comprehensive experimental program was conducted using four distinct loading configurations, three-point bending (3 PB), uniformly distributed load (UDL), uniformly varying load (UVL), and concentrated point load (CPL), across single main member cross-arm specimens. Mechanical deflection and long-term flexural creep tests were performed in accordance with ASTM D790 and D2990 standards. Results showed that the sleeve reinforcement improved instantaneous deflection and creep resistance by up to 62 % and 72 %, respectively. Among the loading types, CPL exhibited negligible influence on real-world failure modes, while UDL and UVL collectively replicated the effects observed under 3 PB, validating the 3 PB condition as the most representative for durability forecasting. Long-term prediction using Findley's power-law model revealed that the sleeve-reinforced cross-arm retained up to 85 % more stiffness after 50 years compared to the virgin composite and Balau wood counterparts. The proposed retrofitting method demonstrates significant potential for extending the service life of transmission tower cross-arms while enabling cost-effective maintenance and structural resilience.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025020304Cross-armBalau woodPGFRP compositeSleeve reinforcementelastic moduli |
| spellingShingle | Vijayvignesh Namasivayam Sukumaar Mohamad Ridzwan Ishak Noorfaizal Yidris Norkhairunnisa Mazlan Muhammad Asyraf Muhammad Rizal Improving creep resistance and durability forecasting of Balau wood–PGFRP composite cross-arms using sleeve retrofitting for transmission towers Results in Engineering Cross-arm Balau wood PGFRP composite Sleeve reinforcement elastic moduli |
| title | Improving creep resistance and durability forecasting of Balau wood–PGFRP composite cross-arms using sleeve retrofitting for transmission towers |
| title_full | Improving creep resistance and durability forecasting of Balau wood–PGFRP composite cross-arms using sleeve retrofitting for transmission towers |
| title_fullStr | Improving creep resistance and durability forecasting of Balau wood–PGFRP composite cross-arms using sleeve retrofitting for transmission towers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improving creep resistance and durability forecasting of Balau wood–PGFRP composite cross-arms using sleeve retrofitting for transmission towers |
| title_short | Improving creep resistance and durability forecasting of Balau wood–PGFRP composite cross-arms using sleeve retrofitting for transmission towers |
| title_sort | improving creep resistance and durability forecasting of balau wood pgfrp composite cross arms using sleeve retrofitting for transmission towers |
| topic | Cross-arm Balau wood PGFRP composite Sleeve reinforcement elastic moduli |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025020304 |
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