Overhead power lines: materials. Supports; Lignes aeriennes: materiels. Supports

Supports, towers and posts for overhead power lines, can have various shapes and sizes, up to 50 m of height and 100 t of weight. They are designed according to mechanical and electrical insulation constraints. This article presents such design rules and makes an inventory of proven and innovative technical solutions taking into considerations the regulatory and environmental evolutions: 1 - materials used (wood, reinforced and prestressed concrete, steel, aluminium alloy, comparison between steel and aluminium alloy; 2 - different dispositions of conductors: triangular, flag, sheet, supports width; 3 - determination of a support outline: conductors attachment, use of insulator brackets; 4 - mechanical calculation of supports: stresses, load hypotheses, calculation methods; 5 - conditions and diagrams of use of supports; 6 - combined supports; 7 - aesthetic supports; 8 - reinforcement kits. (J.S.)