Analysis And Experimental Research On The Restoring Force Characteristics Of Insulator Column

With the improving of the voltage grade of transmission line and the increasing of the weight of power equipment in electric power project, insulator structure has been wildly applied in Power System, and it becomes a main supporting structure in electric power project. At the same time the insulator column has also become a main structural member in electric power project. Because of insulator structure is relatively rare compared with reinforced concrete structure and steel structure, and its main material brittleness, the theoretical studies of insulator columns and insulator structure lag behind engineering application, and studies on seismic behavior and restoring force model of them are few at home and abroad at present.This paper focuses on restoring force characteristics of insulator columns. The test of a insulator column specimen which connected by coryneform pillar of porcelain insulators and aluminum connectors under low cyclic reversed load is carried out. The mechanical behaviors of the insulator column including failure patterns and deformation characteristic etc. are analyzed. According to seismic hysteresis curve and skeleton curve obtained by test, restoring force characteristics of insulator column including ductility, energy dissipation, strength and rigidity degradation are analyzed, and the influences of the aluminum connectors and the insulator cementing between insulator flange and porcelain body etc. on the seismic behaviors of insulator column are discussed. Test results show that insulator column possesses good seismic behaviors, strong energy dissipation and ductility as aluminum connectors improve structure ductility, and the internal stress and the initial crack of the insulator cementing part between insulator flange and porcelain body influenced the carrying capacity of the insulator column. The proposed restoring force model has a good agreement with the test curve, which can be a good reference for seismic design of insulator structure. The study results will be the basis of the elastic—plastic dynamic analysis, which made people understand the seismic behavior of insulator structure and provide theoretical foundation for establishing reasonable calculation theories and design methods of insulator column, the study results will also promote the development and application of the excellent seismic structures.