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Highway Sign Failure Analysis

The document analyzes the failure of a highway sign due to hurricane winds, estimating a total wind force of 24,000 N and a bending moment of 108,000 Nm at the base. It identifies excessive moment at the support poles as the primary cause of failure, with possible modes including bending failure, shear failure in anchor bolts, and pullout failure. Recommendations for future designs include stronger materials and deeper anchoring systems to prevent similar failures.

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69alphamalik
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7 views2 pages

Highway Sign Failure Analysis

The document analyzes the failure of a highway sign due to hurricane winds, estimating a total wind force of 24,000 N and a bending moment of 108,000 Nm at the base. It identifies excessive moment at the support poles as the primary cause of failure, with possible modes including bending failure, shear failure in anchor bolts, and pullout failure. Recommendations for future designs include stronger materials and deeper anchoring systems to prevent similar failures.

Uploaded by

69alphamalik
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Detailed Structural Analysis of Highway Sign Failure Due to

Wind Load

Objective:

To analyze the failure of a roadside highway sign due to extreme hurricane winds. The
analysis involves estimating the wind-induced force acting on the sign, determining the
resulting shear force and bending moment at the base connections, and identifying
possible failure causes and modes.

Problem Statement:

In a coastal region, hurricane-force winds resulted in the collapse of a steel-supported


highway sign. Based on the observed failure and assuming a uniform wind pressure of 2
kPa acting on the surface of the sign, an analytical model is to be developed to
understand the cause of failure. Reasonable assumptions must be made regarding the
dimensions and materials of the sign structure.

The objective is to:

1. The total wind force acting on the sign.

2. The location and magnitude of resultant forces.

3. The shear and moment reactions at the base supports.

4. Likely failure modes of the sign’s support structure.

Assumptions:

- Wind pressure (uniform): 2 kPa (2000 N/m²)

- Sign dimensions (assumed): Width = 4 m, Height = 3 m → Area = 12 m²

- Sign type: Rectangular flat plate mounted perpendicular to wind

- Support system: Two steel hollow pipe columns (assumed diameter = 150 mm,
thickness = 6 mm)

- Material: Mild steel (Yield Strength = 250 MPa, Modulus of Elasticity = 200 GPa)

- Column height from ground to bottom of sign: 3 m

- Sign mounting height from ground: Top of sign = 6 m


- Neglect self-weight of structure (assumed minimal compared to wind force)

Analysis:

1. Total Force on Sign Due to Wind:


F = p × A = 2000 N/m² × 12 m² = 24,000 N

2. Center of Pressure:
Height from ground to center of pressure = 3 m + 1.5 m = 4.5 m

3. Moment at Base (for each column):


M = 24,000 N × 4.5 m = 108,000 Nm (Total)
M_each = 108,000 / 2 = 54,000 Nm

4. Shear Force at Base (per column):


V = 24,000 / 2 = 12,000 N

5. Stress in Column at Base (Bending):


Outer diameter, D = 150 mm = 0.15 m
Wall thickness, t = 6 mm = 0.006 m
Moment of inertia, I = π/64 × (D⁴ - (D - 2t)⁴) ≈ 3.14 × 10⁻⁶ m⁴
Maximum bending stress:
σ = M × c / I = 54,000 × 0.075 / (3.14 × 10⁻⁶) ≈ 1290 MPa

Failure Analysis:

- Primary cause of failure: Excessive moment at the base of the support poles, likely
causing yielding or fracture of steel, or foundation bolt shear/pullout.
- Possible failure modes:
• Bending failure in steel pole (as calculated)
• Shear failure in anchor bolts
• Pullout failure of pole from concrete footing
• Buckling if compression forces dominate due to wind swirl

Conclusion:

The wind load from the hurricane exerted a total lateral force of 24,000 N on the sign,
creating a bending moment of 108,000 Nm at the base. Each support column experienced
a moment of approximately 54,000 Nm, generating stresses exceeding the yield strength
of steel. This analysis confirms that the failure likely occurred at the base connections
due to moment-induced yielding or anchorage failure. To prevent such failures, future
designs must incorporate higher safety margins, stronger materials, deeper anchoring
systems, or flexible sign structures.

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