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Photo courtesy of the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering

Traffic Signal Fatigue Testing Project

April 2, 2007 - Have you ever noticed a traffic signal arm dancing in the wind? Two traffic signal pole failures in Wyoming have resulted in structure fatigue research by the University of Wyoming and Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT). Funded by UW and WYDOT, research is being conducted by Dr. Jay Puckett, Dr. Robert Erikson and graduate student John Peiffer of the UW Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering to determine if construction of signal poles is adequate for Wyoming winds.

Shown in the figure is a typical laboratory test where millions of fatigue load cycles are placed on the pole-to-mast-arm joint – similar to the load effect of the wind. Note in the test setup, the normally vertical pole is in a horizontal position while the mast arm is pointed toward the lab ceiling. Recent and preliminary test results indicated that WYDOT’s new connections are performing well under laboratory testing.







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