Allowable EPAs for aluminum poles
Allowable EPAs for aluminum poles
(OP)
I have a chart of allowable EPAs that can be mounted on a street light pole.
The charts goes something like this.

Pole material being Aluminum, the epas listed in the table are good when the light fixture is mounted directly on top of the pole. But when the light fixture is installed on a long arm ( say 8ft long) then we cant use the same values.
ex : 10' tall pole @ 100mph is a max of 8.3sft on the table. But, when installed on an extended arm, then we cant say the max allowable epa is 8.3 will need to much lesser. May be we will have to consider only 60% of the EPA. Is there a way to calculate this?
I am looking to develop a chart of percentage that can be used for various length of arm / wind speed.
Can any of you guys share your thoughts on this?
The charts goes something like this.

Pole material being Aluminum, the epas listed in the table are good when the light fixture is mounted directly on top of the pole. But when the light fixture is installed on a long arm ( say 8ft long) then we cant use the same values.
ex : 10' tall pole @ 100mph is a max of 8.3sft on the table. But, when installed on an extended arm, then we cant say the max allowable epa is 8.3 will need to much lesser. May be we will have to consider only 60% of the EPA. Is there a way to calculate this?
I am looking to develop a chart of percentage that can be used for various length of arm / wind speed.
Can any of you guys share your thoughts on this?






RE: Allowable EPAs for aluminum poles
I think in order to determine a useful chart that isn't 80 pages long you'd need a standard (or a couple standard) arm length(s).
Then you need to figure out the pole's capacity due to both the bending induced by the self weight of the fixture and arm, and the torsional stresses induced by wind on the fixture.
RE: Allowable EPAs for aluminum poles
Trying to help our sales group to be able to determine if they are selling safer assemblies by considering reduced values when on arm.
RE: Allowable EPAs for aluminum poles
Although I would bet you'd have more luck using the sizes and grade of aluminum they show in the table and calculate it the long way.
I'm not well versed in aluminum design so I unfortunately can't direct you to any specific resources regarding that.
RE: Allowable EPAs for aluminum poles
RE: Allowable EPAs for aluminum poles
RE: Allowable EPAs for aluminum poles
RE: Allowable EPAs for aluminum poles
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/structures/StructuresMa...
Aluminum is still acceptable for luminaires. The problems with aluminum sign structures is a different issue.