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“ Vibration Dampers”, by David G. Havard, CEA Workshop on Transmission Line

Asset Maintenance, Session on: Assessment Inspection Methods, Diagnostic
Tools, Testing, Condition Monit...

Conference Paper · October 1998

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 Vibration Dampers

by David G. Havard, Ph.D., P.Eng.

Havard Engineering Inc.

Contribution to the CEA Workshop on Transmission Line Asset Maintenance,

Session on: Assessment Inspection Methods, Diagnostic Tools, Testing,
Condition Monitoring, Life Cycle and Aging, Remedial Measures
Montréal, Oct 18-19, 1999

Summary

Stockbridge damper failures indicate inadequate control of aeolian vibration and possible damage due to fretting,
fatigue and wear in overhead conductors, hardware and support structures. Damper damage is usually readily
observed during line inspection from the ground or helicopter flyby, and serves as a predictor of other more
serious problems. Replacement of damaged dampers and enhancement of damping schemes can be effective in
reducing further damage and prolonging the endurance of conductors, hardware and tower arms.

The paper reviews the fundamentals of conductor vibration control, Stockbridge damper properties, the practices
of damper application, the types of damage experienced, use of vibration recorders for critical spans, the impact
of in-span masses such as aircraft warning markers, and some approaches to inspection protocols.

Key Words: Dampers, Conductors, Fatigue, Wear, Damage

Introduction: Aeolian Vibration of Conductors

Overhead single conductors, overhead ground wires, and bundle conductors are continuously excited by ambient
winds which cause the conductors to vibrate vertically due to alternating pressure distributions associated with
vortex shedding. The severity of this vibration depends on a number of factors, including the velocity, direction
and turbulence of the wind, the tension in the conductor, and the total damping of the system. This total damping
is made up from the self-damping of the conductor and the damping of any added dampers or, in bundles, spacer-
dampers. Conductor self-damping is reduced by increase in tension and so increased conductor tension results in
increased vibration levels. Turbulent winds due to rough terrain produce lower levels of vibration while laminar
winds, such as occur over water or flat land, produce higher vibration levels.

The vibration usually occurs within the frequency range of 5 to 100 Hz, larger conductors having lower vibration
frequencies and smaller conductors and overhead
ground wires having higher vibration frequencies. The
vibration at any given time comprises one or more
frequencies in a narrow band, higher wind speeds
causing higher frequencies. The vibration takes the
form of waves, or loops, inversely proportional in
length to the frequency. There are many waves, and
intermediate nodes, or stationary points, across a
typical conductor span that is undergoing aeolian
vibration. To be effective the total damping needs to
absorb energy at every frequency in the range
occurring on the conductor. The conductor self-
Figure 1 Symmetrical Stockbridge damper
damping is highest for high frequency vibration and
with cross-section of a damper weight [1]
usually much lower for the lowest frequencies

1
experienced on conductors. Thus the added Stockbridge dampers need to be most effective in these lower
frequencies. While other dampers do exist, this paper focuses mainly on Stockbridge dampers, Figure 1, which
are the type of damper almost exclusively used on conductors in North America. The mathematical relationships
that predict conductor vibration levels are beyond the scope of this paper and are described fully in [2].

Special self-damping conductors are used by some Canadian utilities without additional dampers. These
conductors consist of two loosely fitting separate layers, with an air gap between. When the wind causes the
conductor to vibrate, the two layers have different vibration modes and the two layers impact each other,
absorbing energy. These conductors are used in single and bundle line configurations. While installation requires
special care, the in-service record has been satisfactory.

Elastomer lined, helically attached suspension clamps, and armour rods under suspension clamps, help to reduce
the vibratory stress levels in the conductor. The lifetimes of conductors are thereby extended over those
supported by metal clamps without dampers. However the elastomer lined clamps do not absorb the wind
induced energy of vibration, and this energy is dissipated in other parts of the support system. As a result there
can be loosened bolts, and cotter pins, in the insulator strings, as well as loosened bolts within the tower.

Conductor Damage from Vibration

It is illuminating to feel the leg of a tower on a windy day.

Vibration can be clearly detected. The tower members,
insulators and fittings have low energy absorption and can
transmit any high vibration from the wind excited
conductor to the ground. Damage can occur when the
conductor vibration amplitudes exceed about 0.25 mm
peak to peak when measured at the standard distance of 89
mm from the last point of contact between the conductor
and the suspension clamp. This damage is most often seen
as broken strands adjacent to the suspension clamp keeper.
Figure 2 illustrates typical conductor damage due to Figure 2 Vibration induced conductor damage at
aeolian vibration. the end of a suspension clamp after one year of
service [3]
The damage can also occur in mid-span especially when
there are masses such as aircraft warning markers attached. The markers themselves may fall off the conductor.
In-span dampers each side of the marker, as well as armor rods to distribute the stresses, are often used to prevent
loss of markers. In- span damage is often indicated by the presence of black dust on the surface of the conductor.

The strand damage is initiated by rubbing and wear between strands, and this can occur on internal as well as on
the surface layer of strands of the conductor. The wear process initiates fatigue cracks which can propagate
across the strands leading to total strand failure. If strand failures are visible then it is likely that there is also
further damage within the conductor at that location. Modest fatigue damage can be repaired by patch rods
bridging the damaged section. The fatigue process can continue and, if not controlled, can cause failure of all
aluminum strands at the highly stressed section. A new section of conductor will then have to be joined to the
remaining undamaged sections each side of the damage location.

Usually Stockbridge dampers provide adequate vibration protection and there are relatively few problems with
mechanical damage of conductors at suspension clamps. Where problems arise they are usually associated with
high conductor tensions, insufficient number of dampers installed, improper manufacture of dampers, or dampers
damaged by other effects such as galloping.

2
Galloping behaviour is not significantly modified by
Stockbridge dampers, but the dampers themselves may
be damaged by many cycles of low frequency
oscillations that can occur due to severe galloping,
Figure 3. Utilities can protect themselves against
improperly manufactured dampers by specifying tests to
confirm adequate energy absorption in the required
frequency range, and adequate endurance of the damper
through a fatigue test [4-8].

Stockbridge Dampers Figure 3 Stockbridge Damper showing drooped

messenger wire due to conductor galloping
To paraphrase George Orwell: "All dampers are equal,
but some dampers are more equal than others". Most Stockbridge dampers comprise two masses attached by a
steel messenger wire to a clamp, which in turn is attached to the conductor, Figure 1. The dampers amplify the
conductor motions and induce dynamic bending in the messenger wire where the energy is absorbed by friction
between the strands.

The most basic form of damper is symmetrical, using two equal weights and equal lengths of messenger wire.
This type of damper has two resonant frequencies corresponding to the first and second mode bending of the
messenger wire, Figure 4. At frequencies away from these resonances the damper will have a much lower level
of energy absorption.

In an effort to reduce the weight of dampers, and extend the range of frequencies with effective energy
absorption, asymmetrical designs with different sizes of weight and lengths of messenger wire have been
introduced. These typically have four resonances in the vibration frequency range occurring in conductors.
These correspond to the first and second vibration modes of the messenger wire on each side of the damper.
Other modern designs include eccentric weights which, in
addition to the above vibration modes, excite additional
resonances in which the messenger wire is twisted as the
weights respond to the vertical travel of the conductor.
Figures 5 and 6 show sample energy absorption versus
vibration frequency curves for symmetrical and asymmetrical
dampers of similar weight.

Requirements for Stockbridge Dampers

Dampers need to be able to absorb sufficient energy at all

vibration frequencies corresponding to the range expected for
the conductor size. Standardized test methods have been
developed to measure this energy absorption [4,5] and several
utilities have developed acceptance curves for their
applications [6,7]. These tests require a specialized laboratory
simulating the conditions in a span of conductor, and
equipment to vibrate the conductor and measure the vibration
Figure 4 Vibration modes of Stockbridge
amplitudes in the span. Most damper manufacturers have
damper in first and second resonances.
such facilities, and have data on their own products measured
Courtesy Fargo Manufacturing Co.
using standard procedures.

3
 Figure 5 Energy absorption versus vibration Figure 6 Energy absorption versus vibration
frequency curve for symmetrical damper [9] frequency curve for asymmetrical damper with
eccentric weights [9]

In addition to having sufficient energy absorbing capacity, the dampers must endure many cycles of vibration
without failing. A fatigue test to confirm this endurance capability is included in several of the specifications [5-
7]. In one method the damper is placed on a shaker and oscillated at a resonant frequency at a prescribed
amplitude for a million cycles. The absorption characteristic after tests should not deviate significantly from the
characteristic measured before the endurance test. A summary of alternative damper tests and acceptance criteria
is given in a CEA State of the Art Report [8].

Due to variation between dampers within a production run, sampling is necessary to recognize the dispersion of
damping and endurance properties. Because of this variation, the type test damping performance should be
downgraded in any calculations used to determine the number of dampers required.

Category Suspension Spans Suspension - Dead End Dead End - Dead End
Spans Spans
Tension < 3% RTS No Dampers No Dampers No Dampers
Diameter < 15 mm
Tension 3-6% RTS No Dampers No Dampers No Dampers
Diameter > 15 mm
Tension 3-10% RTS 1 Damper/Span 1 Damper/Span 2 Dampers/Span
Diameter < 15 mm
Span Length < 500m
Tension 10-20 % RTS 2 Dampers/Span 3 Dampers/Span 4 Dampers/Span
Span Length < 500m
Tension 10-20% RTS 2 Dampers/Span 3 Dampers/Span 4 Dampers/Span
Span length > 500m plus In-span Damping plus In-span Damping plus In-span Damping

Table 1 Sample guidelines for number of Stockbridge dampers required on ACSR conductors of different size,
span length and tension [after 10]

4
Stockbridge Damper Number and Placement

Guidance on number and location of dampers can be obtained from damper suppliers, and many utilities have
developed their own practices based on past experience. Spans have zero, one, two, three or four dampers per
span depending on span length, suspension versus dead end support, and conductor tension. Very long spans
may have additional in-span dampers. A typical practice is illustrated in Table 1. The tension used is at 15°C,
final, with no wind or ice.

ACSR Conductor Wind Speed Frequencies Corresponding Loop Lengths

Size km/hr Hz m
10% RTS 12.5% RTS 15% RTS 20% RTS
4/0 AWG 15 54.0 0.86 0.96 1.05 1.22
6/1 30 108.0 0.43 0.48 0.53 0.61
477 kcmil 15 35.5 1.33 1.49 1.63 1.88
26/7 30 71.0 0.66 0.74 0.81 0.94
795 kcmil 15 27.5 1.68 1.89 2.06 2.38
26/7 30 55.0 0.84 0.94 1.03 1.19
959.5 kcmil 15 25.3 1.81 2.02 2.22 2.56
54/7 30 50.6 0.90 1.01 1.11 1.28
1277.5 kcmil 15 22.7 1.83 2.05 2.24 2.59
42/7 30 45.4 0.91 1.02 1.12 1.29
2332.8 kcmil 12 13.5 3.08 3.44 3.77 4.36
72/19
3360 kcmil 12 11.1 3.90 4.36 4.78 5.52
84/19

Table 2 Sample vibration loop lengths for several ACSR conductor sizes and tensions [after 10]

Dampers that are installed too far from the suspension clamp may be close to a node of the conductor vibration at
higher aeolian vibration frequencies and again fail to absorb vibration energy at those frequencies. A common
practice is to place the damper so that it is within the first vibration loop at all aeolian vibration frequencies, and
these loop lengths depend on conductors size. Table 2 shows maximum aeolian vibration loop lengths for a few
sample sizes of ACSR conductor. The dampers are usually placed near the end of the span, at 80% of this loop
length from the centre of the suspension clamp.

When there is one damper per span, the dampers are frequently installed at every second support structure. When
there are two dampers per span they are normally spaced at the same distance each side of the every suspension
clamp. There is some advantage in placing dampers asymmetrically within each span which effectively smoothes
out the energy absorption properties of the two dampers, reducing the chance of a vibration frequency with
marginal damping.

Damping of Overhead Ground Wires

Overhead ground wires may be ACSR conductor, galvanized or aluminized steel cable. They are subject to the
same wind induced vibrations as conductors, except that because they are usually smaller in diameter, the
vibrations occur at higher frequencies, and accumulate more cycles. They frequently require damping and the
two most common types of hardware used are Stockbridge and impact dampers.

5
The Stockbridge dampers used are similar to those for phase conductors, except that they are smaller and lighter
and tuned to the higher vibration frequencies. Impact dampers are normally spiral plastic rods with a tight fitting
gripping section at one end and a loose fitting open spiral section extending some distance along the wire. These
spiral dampers may be installed singly or in pairs at one or both ends of the span.

Indications of Damage During Inspection

Stockbridge and impact dampers are generally visible

from the ground, and so can be readily inspected
using binoculars. The dampers also undergo
amplified motions compared to the conductor. If the
damper is not adequate for the application for any
reason, it will usually display signs of distress before
the conductor and is therefore a useful fatigue
damage warning device. On Stockbridge dampers
this damage may be minor, such as breakage of
messenger wire strands, which could occur where the
messenger wire joins the clamp or where it joins the
weight. The first location may be visible from the
ground with binoculars, or from a helicopter flyby,
but in many damper designs the second location is
hidden. If it is not corrected by replacing the damper,
minor strand damage may become more widespread Figure 7 Stockbridge damper with failed messenger
and the messenger wire may fatigue completely, wires
dropping one or both weights, Figure 7.

Stockbridge dampers are often found to have drooped messenger wires, Figure 1. This is the result of vibration at
low frequencies, below the range for which the damper is designed. These frequencies are most often due to
galloping of the conductors. Recent tests of drooped dampers, which had no signs of fracture of any messenger
wires, revealed that they still retained a significant fraction of their original damping capacity. But drooped
dampers are an indication that galloping has occurred on the line and there can be damage due to that galloping
exposure. This damage is similar to damage due to
excessive aeolian vibration and it is difficult to discern
from the damage which type of vibration has occurred.
The distinctive forms of damage due to galloping are the
result of the large amplitudes of motion, comparable to
the phase to phase spacing, which can result in
flashovers between the phases and burn marks where
conductors have clashed. Galloping causes along the
line motions of suspension insulators, and in extreme
cases the sheds can indent the conductor.

Improperly manufactured dampers may feature: sliding

of the damper along the conductor; slippage of the
weights through the central clamp body; or slippage of
the weights off the messenger wire, Figure 8. In some
cases the clamping pressure of the damper to the
conductor is not attained during installation. A common Figure 8 Stockbridge damper with messenger wire
reason being the use of threads directly into aluminum slipped through clamp body
castings, which can gall if the thread sizes are not
matched well and there is no lubrication. Slippage along the messenger wire is the result of hole diameters in the

6
weights or damper clamp that are too large for the messenger wire. Spiral vibration dampers may loosen if the
clamping section does not fit tightly enough, and the damper may migrate down the span. If fewer dampers than
necessary are installed there may still be sufficient vibration to damage the conductor.

If there is any sign of damage to the dampers, is it very desirable to inspect for ancillary damage on the line.
Uncontrolled vibration is insidious. It may show up as conductor damage, loosening of cotter pins, nuts and bolts
on the support hardware and insulator strings, and loosened bolts in the tower arms. On river crossing spans, it
may coincide with loss of aircraft warning markers.

Use of Vibration Recorders

When there are persistent problems of vibration on a

line, such a repeated failures of Stockbridge dampers,
correction may require a more sophisticated analysis of
the vibration behaviour. This is done by using vibration
recorders, such as shown in Figure 9, to monitor the
amplitude and frequency of the vibration. This is usually
done over a two month period to ensure capture of a
representative sample of response to the wind exposure.
The vibration records can show generally high vibration
response and specific "windows" of underdamped
vibration. Such analysis can lead to targeted upgrading
of the vibration damping scheme, and longer life for the Figure 9 Recorder for monitoring and analysis of
conductor. Procedures for making vibration recordings conductor vibration
have been published by CIGRÉ and IEEE committees
[11,12].

Conclusions

Uncontrolled wind induced vibration of conductors can cause wear and fatigue damage to conductors, support
hardware, and towers. Most overhead lines damped with Stockbridge dampers have satisfactory performance. In
a few cases where insufficient dampers are installed or dampers have failed, conductor and hardware damage has
occurred. The condition of the Stockbridge dampers is a useful indicator of further damage within the support
system, such as loosened bolts in hardware and tower arms, and cotter pins in hardware and insulator strings, as
well as conductor wear and fatigue.

References

[1] J.S. Tompkins, L.L. Merrill, & B.L. Jones, “Quantitative Relationships In Conductor Vibration
Damping”, Trans. AIEE, Power Apparatus and Systems, Volume 75, pp 879-94, Oct 1956.

[2] "Transmission Line Reference Book - Wind Induced Conductor Motion", Electric Power Research
Institute, Research Project 795, 1978.

[3] D.E. Amm & D.G. Havard, "A Review of Ontario Hydro Experience with Conductor Vibration and
Galloping Problems - Existing and Future Solutions”, CEA Workshop on Control of Transmission Line
Vibration, Montréal, 1980.

[4] "IEEE Guide on the Measurement of Performance of Aeolian Vibration Dampers for Single
Conductors", IEEE Std 664-1980.

7
[5] "Fittings for Overhead Lines and Switchgear - Mechanical Behaviour of Anti-Vibration Fittings", Spec.
No. DIN VDE 0212, Part 51, Germany, July 1986.

[6] "Technical Specification - Vibration Dampers", Specification ETF 60-25.2G, Bonneville Power
Administration, Portland, OR, Oct 1987.

[7] "Specification for Vibration Dampers, Stockbridge Type", Specification No. LPS-X4S-51052-0985-84,
Ontario Hydro, 1984.

[8] D.G. Havard, A.A. Shehata and C.J. Pon, "Development of Improved Test Methods and Performance
Criteria for Vibration Dampers - Phase I", Report on CEA R&D Project 341 T 510, Dec 1992.

[9] F. Rhomberg, ”Vibration dampers technical description: development of the Lorünser wideband-
damper” - Lorünser Elecktroarmaturen, 1984.

[10] Vibration Damping Arrangements for Transmission Lines” Transmission Design Methods No. 5, Ontario
Hydro, 1978.

[11] IEEE Committee Report, "Standardization of Conductor Vibration Measurements", IEEE Trans. on
Power Apparatus and Systems, Vol. PAS-85, pp 10-20, 1966.

[12] “Guide to Vibration Measurements on Overhead Lines” ELECTRA, No. 163, Dec 1995.

The Author

Dr. David Havard is the Technical Coordinator of CEA's Transmission Line Asset Management Interest Group.
He can be contacted at Havard Engineering Inc, 3142 Lindenlea Drive, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5C 2C2.
Tel. (905) 273-3076, Fax (905) 273-5402, email: [email protected].

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