Modular Lattice Tower Assembly for Variable Site Conditions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Construction of support towers for electrical power distribution or transmission lines faces challenges due to deviations in site conditions from initial design assumptions, leading to design alterations and long lead times for procurement and delivery of large towers.
Innovation Solution
The use of modular sections with uniform interfaces and standardized components allows for flexible assembly, enabling onsite adjustments in height, strength, and embedment to accommodate varying site conditions, using standardized components that can be easily interconnected and modified as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional support towers are pre-ordered before the final route is fully defined, then procurement and delivery can begin early, but the design cannot accommodate site condition deviations without introducing challenges and delays
Solution Approach 1:
The support tower is divided into multiple modular sections that can be independently manufactured and assembled. Each section has standardized interfaces that allow for easy reconfiguration. This segmentation enables the tower to be adapted to different site conditions by rearranging or replacing individual sections without requiring complete redesign or reordering of the entire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design allows the tower configuration to be dynamically adjusted based on actual site conditions. Standardized connection interfaces enable quick reconfiguration of modular sections during assembly, providing adaptability while maintaining efficient procurement and delivery timelines through pre-manufactured components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the design of support towers is altered to accommodate different site conditions, then adaptability to site-specific conditions improves, but procurement and delivery challenges arise due to long lead times
Solution Approach 1:
The modular sections are designed with universal standardized interfaces that can accommodate various configuration requirements. A single set of modular components can be used across multiple tower designs and site conditions, providing design flexibility without requiring custom procurement for each specific application.
Solution Approach 2:
Modular sections are pre-manufactured with standardized connection interfaces during normal production cycles, allowing them to be readily available for deployment. This preliminary preparation of standardized components eliminates the need for lengthy custom fabrication when site condition adaptations are required.
3Adaptability or versatility
If modular sections with standardized components are used, then assembly flexibility and adaptability improve, but the complexity of ensuring uniform interfaces and connections increases
Solution Approach 1:
All modular sections utilize identical standardized connection interfaces with uniform dimensions, tolerances, and attachment mechanisms. This homogeneity in interface design simplifies the assembly process and reduces the complexity of ensuring compatibility, as the same connection procedure applies to all modular sections regardless of their specific function or position in the tower.
Data Source
AI summary
A tower has an above ground portion and an embedded portion joined to the above ground portion. The above ground portion and the embedded portion have a respective plurality of modular sections where each respective modular section in each of the respective plurality of modular sections has a respective vertical height and a quadrilateral plan view cross section with equal plan view outer dimensions over the respective vertical height of the modular section. At least one lower modular section in the above ground portion comprises a stronger structure than a modular section that is above the at least one lower modular section. Each modular section in each of the respective plurality of modular sections has corner struts that are parallel to one another and modular sections in each of the respective plurality of modular sections are arranged in a linear sequence.