Failure investigation of 132 kV power transmission composite crossarms

• Main Authors: Leman, Z., Mukhtar, I., Sapuan, S. M., Yusuff, M. Z. M.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Calcium carbonate; Failure investigations; Flexural strength; Glass fiber reinforced plastics; Power lines; Structural failure; Water absorption; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0230233

The aim of this research was to investigate the cause of structural failure to the composite crossarms used in 132kV electrical power transmission lines. It was believed that the presence of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) filler had contributed to the crossarms failure. Therefore, this research examined the effect of the CaCO3 on water absorption, flexural properties and phase changes in the composite crossarm. The tests on the composite properties such as flexural strength, water absorption and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were conducted. The flexural test was done before and after water absorption test. While the XRD was carried out to show the phase changes due to the incorporation of the CaCO3, as well as to determine the various compounds and their percentages in the composite crossarms. The findings suggest that specimens with CaCO3 had an increase in flexural strength and modulus by 75.5% and 60.7% respectively. However, the flexural properties after water absorption showed a decrease in strength. Similarly, a specimen with CaCO3 absorbed 2.06% water compared to the specimen without CaCO3 which absorbed 3.15%. The XRD analysis of the composite with CaCO3 revealed a high percentage of homogeneous phase of polymer and glass fibre when compared to the composite without CaCO3. The analysis confirms there was a presence of 8.7% CaCO3 in the composite.