Structural Performance of Polymeric Composite Members in a

On transmission lines of different countries, the theft of redundant steel members from the transmission towers has been reported in recent years (1-4). The removal of these members from the tower can result in the collapse of the tower, causing the suspension of electric service. An alternative to avoid this problematic is to replace some steel components by polymeric composite members. The integrity of the tower will be maintained if the polymeric composite members resists the mechanical stresses that occur along the tower due to the own weight of the structure and all the components installed inside the structure (conductors , insulators, fittings, etc.) and due to the wind striking the structure. To check the resistance of the polymeric composite members, simulations of stresses along the transmission tower were performed using COMSOL Multiphysics. The results show that the use of polymeric composite components in transmission line towers can be a good alternative to prevent theft of steel members from these towers.