Wood H-Frame Transmission Line
Design on a Personal Computer: Using
Mainframe Programs on a PC
Gary C. Thomann
Introduction
It has been the author’s experience that effective
use of a personal computer (PC) requires knowledge
of a number of software packages. For technical ap-
plications, either a series of software packages is used
to make the actual analysis or data is transferred from
one package to another for format manipulation and
graphing. This paper will describe the use of a PC (the
term PC in this paper will mean any IBM PC compat-
ible that includes a hard disk and a math coprocessor)
for transmission line design with wood H-frame struc-
tures. Simple wood H-frame structures are very popu-
lar for transmission line design in the United States
because of their low first cost combined with relatively
long life. A short description of two H-frame structural
analysis and design programs will be given, but the
main purpose of the paper is to demonstrate how some
of the popular commercial software packages can be
applied to help with the use of the structural analysis
programs. A brief discussion of the use of the PC for
transmission environmental calculations is also given.
Analysis Program Description
TLOP (transmission line optimization program) is one
of the TLWorkstation programs developed for EPRl [ 1 1,
[ 2 I. TLOP considers spankonductor combinations and
selects the most economic combination. For each
conductor/span combination, tower height and cost are
calculated, and the initial construction cost of the
transmission line is calculated. In addition, a life-cycle
cost is calculated for each combination using financial
data and the analysis lifetime.
Before performing an analysis, the user must supply
a variety of data about the transmission line being con-
structed. General data includes the number of circuits
on the line, the line length, any angles in the line, the
structure to be considered, the insulator length, and
the spans and conductors to be considered. TLOP con-
siders 10 tower configurations;one is the wood H-frame
structure. Construction costs consisting of values such
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as cost of conductor material and right-of-way costs
are inputted. Sagtension and loading data and mini-
mum mid-span clearance information are entered. Fi-
nally, financial data consisting of values such as discount
rates and cost of energy are inputted.
For each conductor/span combination, TLOP runs a
sagtension analysis to determine maximum sag. The
maximum sag is combined with minimum mid-span
clearance, insulator length, and structure geometry to
get tower height. Then, tower cost is calculated using
an algorithm that relates cost to height, transverse, and
longitudinal loading. Construction costs and life-cycle
costs are calculated using the financial data supplied,
and all spankonductor combinations are compared to
determine the optimum pair.
When considering wood H-frame structures, the al-
gorithm relates the pole class of the two tower vertical
poles to the pole height and transverse load on the
structure. Pole class ( H l , 1, 2, etc.) is a measure of
pole strength and actually specifies pole diameter. TLOP
selects pole height in response to mid-span clearance
requirements, and transverse load is calculated from
the span and user-input loading conditions. The algo-
rithm then specifies which length and class pole to use
for each spardconductor combination. Of course, high-
class poles cost more than the thinner lower-class ones.
An economic trade-off develops between short spans
with cheaper but numerous structures against long
spans with fewer but more expensive structures. Con-
ductor type influences design in a similar way. Small
conductors require modest towers, but the small con-
ductors have more 12Rlosses over the line lifetime than
larger diameter conductors. However, the larger con-
ductors require heavier, more expensive towers. The
user must supply the algorithm. To develop the algo-
rithm, a structure must be analyzed for a range of con-
ductor sizes (transverse loads), pole lengths, and pole
classes. Approximate methods can be used to make
the calculations [3], or more exact structural models
can be used. One such detailed model is HFRAME-84.
 HFRAME-84 is a computer program written in FOR-
TRAN that performs either the analysis or design of
transversely loaded planar wood, steel, and pre-
stressed concrete transmission structures [ 41. Input data
for both analysis and design include a description of
the structure geometry and its nominal material prop-
erties, conductor and ground-wire sizes, and locations
of structure loads. In the analysis mode, span is input-
ted, and the program computes stresses and deflec-
tions at several points in the structure. In the design
mode, the program computes the span, which causes
the structure to fail and indicates the failure point. Wind
loads may be inputted as a uniform pressure or com-
puted by the program using reference velocity, wind
profile, and drag coefficients. HFRAME-84 was written
to run in a batch mode on a mainframe computer. It
is not an interactive program. With the mainframe ver-
sion, an input file was originally prepared on computer
cards, the program was run, and an output report was
printed. The current mainframe method of running the
program would be to construct an input file in ASCII
format using an editor or word processing program.
Development of the TLOP algorithm requires a large
number of runs, typically 25 to 100. Other types of
analysis could also require numerous runs, for exam-
ple, examining the effect of changing vertical pole
spacing, X-brace location, pole burial depth, conductor
diameter, loading conditions, etc. Each run requires
returning to the original input file and editing the file’s
contents, which takes considerable time. Another time-
consuming editing feature is that structure joint loca-
tions must be inputted, and each joint location is ref-
erenced to the ground point of the left vertical pole.
When pole height is changed, the location of each joint
changes, and about a dozen changes are necessary to
the input file. Changes to tower width, X-brace loca-
Fig. l A diagram showing the template layout.
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tion, crossarm location, or phase spacing also neces-
sitate numerous changes to the input file. The extensive
file editing effectively negates the use of the program
for making a large number of runs. The procedure to
circumvent this problem is described below; the tech-
nique could be used with other batch programs writ-
ten for mainframe computers.
Doing the Analysis on a PC
First, the HFRAME-84 code was compiled to run on
a PC. Then a template (worksheet) was constructed
using one of the popular spreadsheet programs. The
cell widths in the spreadsheet were set to exactly match
the HFRAME-84 input format requirements, since the
FORTRAN input format is very particular. Each cell in
the template holds a data entry-for example, joint
number, joint location, pole height, material proper-
ties, etc. A picture of part of the template is shown in
Fig. 1. When the left side of the template is examined
on the monitor screen, it looks exactly like the HFRAME-
84 ASCII input file. However, underlying many of the
worksheet cells are equations. Off to the right edge of
the template is an input area to enter information about
the structure geometry-for example, vertical pole
spacing, crossarm and X-brace cross section, X-brace
location, etc. If pole spacing or any other tower di-
mensions are changed in this structure-geometry input
area, the formulas in the cells in the data area then
adjust the cell values automatically to reflect the new
structure geometry. Therefore, any part of the tower
design can be changed in seconds. As another feature,
a separate template was set up as a pole and conduc-
tor library. This library template has pole height and
diameter information and conductor diameter and
weight data. Then, in the original template, if a pole
class/height combination (like HI-70 for a 70-ft class
HI pole) or a conductor name (like DRAKE) is typed
in response to a prompt, the
pole or conductor informa-
tion is retrieved from the li-
brary a n d automatically
inserted into the template.
Again, the equations under-
lying the cells make all nec-
essary adjustments for pole
height by changing joint-lo-
cation values. Therefore,
These cells poles or conductors can also
be changed in seconds. A
contain data simple example will be given
about the to illustrate the equations.
structure Suppose an H-frame struc-
ture that has the crossarm
geometry.
located 8 ft from the top of
the tower is being analyzed,
and suppose the structure is
presently being analyzed for
April 1988 15
a 60-ft pole length. A picture
of the structure is shown in
Fig. 2. Normally, a pole is
buried in the ground a dis-
tance of 10 percent of its
length + 2 ft, or 8 ft for the
60-ft pole. Therefore, the top
of the structure is at 52 ft,
a n d the crossarm height
(joint 4 in Fig. 2) is 44 ft. Part
of line 9 of the left area in
the template destined to be
the HFRAME-84 input file
would have the following
information in it.
Cell A9 B9 C9
Data 4 0.0 44.0
The 4 in cell A9 is the joint
number where the cross-
arm connects to the vertical
pole, the 0.0 in cell B9 is the
x dimension (0.0 since the
left pole is the reference),
and the 44.0 in C9 is the y
distance above the ground.
The pole length, 60 ft, is en-
tered in another part of the
template. Now, suppose the
user decides to analyze the Fig. 2 A picture of an H-frame structure using a 6 0 4 pole
structure with an 80-ft pole. length and a crossarm located 8 ft from pole top.
Then, 80 is entered into the
cell for pole length. The joint-location change in cell of the template in Fig. 1 into a print file, which is now
C9 is made by having the equation in cell C9 be: exactly the input file required by HFRAME-84. When
PLENGTH - (0.1 x PLENCTH + 2) - CROSSARM the spreadsheet program is exited, the batch program
regains control, renames the print file to the input-file
PLENCTH is the location of the cell where the pole name required by HFRAME-84, runs HFRAME-84, and
length is stored, and CROSSARM is the location of the places the program output results in a separate file,
cell in the right-hand area of the template shown in which the user can either examine on the monitor
Fig. 1 where the distance from the top of the pole to screen or print out. Using the combination of the tem-
the crossarm is stored. The distance to the crossarm plate, the conductor/pole library and the batch tile, a
is stored this way so that the crossarm can be quickly complete edit, run, and data examination can be done
moved up and down the tower if desired. The equation every 2 to 3 mins, depending on the PC clock speed.
now displays the value 62 in cell C9, which is the cross- This tumaround is, of course, orders of magnitude faster
arm height. The user does not have to be constrained than would be possible with manual input-file editing.
to a pole burial depth of 10 percent of length + 2 ft; Each time a run is made, virtually any feature of the
another variable could be used, and the burial depth tower can be quickly changed, including pole height
can then be inputted into the structure-geometry area or strength, conductor, structure geometry, ultimate
of the template. stresses, loading conditions, etc.
Finally, to complete the process, a small DOS (disk For this application, the output information from a
operating system) batch (command) tile was con- large number of runs was inserted into yet another
structed to automate the process. This batch file opens spreadsheet template, and a regression analysis was
the spreadsheet program and calls up the template. done to obtain the algorithm needed for TLOP. The
The user then makes any changes to the input tile de- regression data was also sent to a word processing
sired and exits the spreadsheet program. The exit is program for inclusion in a report and also to a graphics
done in a way to trigger the recording of the left area program to produce a graph showing how well the
data fit a linear regression. The graph was also in-
16 IEEE Computer Applications in Power

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eluded in the report. The regression equation was used
to make the TLOP runs. The TLOP output was also
sent to a word processing program to be included in
the final report. The complete analysis then used two
FORTRAN programs, a spreadsheet, a graphics pro-
gram, a word processing program, and a DOS batch
file.
Other Transmission line Design Calculations
The above discussion considered structural analysis
of suspension towers on level terrain. Nonlevel terrain
can be included in the HFRAME-84 analysis by adjust-
ing the wind/weight span ratio. Strain towers can be
analyzed by inputting concentrated loads on the tower.
The concentrated load could be automatically applied
using the spreadsheet template. A future version of TLOP
should have a tower-spotting routine using digitized
elevation data and a dynamic programming routine to
select tower locations.
It would be nice to use the PC for other aspects of
transmission line design, including radio interference
(RI), electric and magnetic fields, flashover from light-
ning and switching surges, and higher phase orders. A
brief discussion of this analysis will be given here; more
detailed coverage would be a suitable subject for an-
other paper.
The author is aware of mainframe computer pro-
grams to calculate audible noise [5], electric field at
the conductor surface and across the right-of-way [6],
and RI [7]. These programs are simple enough to be
compiled to run on a PC, and they include the capa-
bility of considering 6 and 12 phase lines. Unlike
HFRAME-84, these programs are interactive; because
they require a lot of common data for each run, such
interactive programs are often run on mainframe com-
puters using another small program that automatically
inserts requested data. These small programs are called
command files. Unfortunately, DOS batch files will not
operate like the mainframe command files, but there
are PC programs available that will. In addition to the
audible noise, electric field, and RI programs men-
tioned here, there may be others available. Future ver-
sions of TLWorkstation should have environmental
calculation packages [ 81. The TLWorkstation program
MULTIFLASH can be used for lightning flashover cal-
culations [9]. There is at least one PC program avail-
able that will calculate flashover probabilities for
switching surges [ IO]. Switching-surge distributions can
be calculated using the electromagnetic transients pro-
gram (EMTP) [ 1 1 ]. EMTP is a mainframe program that
will simulate high-phase order lines; the author un-
derstands that a PC version is available but, at present,
has no experience with it.
Conclusions and Discussion
This article demonstrates how popular commercial
software can be used to greatly enhance the effective-
ness of batch programs originally written for main-
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frame computers. The other feature of PC analysis that
was demonstrated is that data usually travels through
a software series, from analysis to graphics to word
processing for report preparation. The engineer needs
to be familiar with these programs; at a minimum, in
addition to technical software, a utility engineer should
be able to use word processors, spreadsheet, data base,
and simple graphics programs. Also, with the conver-
sion of several programs from mainframe computers
to PCs, a large percentage of transmission line design
could be done on the PC. As faster PCs become avail-
able with operating systems that eliminate current
memory addressing problems, many more mainframe
programs will become available for the small ma-
chines.
References
TL Workstation Code: Version 1.0, EPRl EL-454O-CCM,v6, Elec-
tric Power Research Institute, 3412 Hillview Ave., Palo Alto,
CA 94304, July 1986.
1. S. Grant and R. E. Clayton, “Transmission Line Optimiza-
tion,’’ IEEE PES Summer Conference, Mexico City, Mexico,
1986.
Design Manual for High-Voltage Transmission Lines, REA Bul-
letin 62-1, United States Department of Agriculture, Dec. 1981.
Reliability-Based Design of Transmission Line Structures User
Manual: HFRAME-84 Analysis and Design of Multiple Struc-
tures, EPRl EL-4097-CCM, Electric Power Research Institute,
3412 Hillview Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304, Sept. 1985.
Audible Noise Program, Power Technologies, Inc., P.O. Box
1058, Schenectady, NY 12301, June 1983.
Electric Field Program, #M-4-82, Power Technologies, Inc.,
P.O. Box 1058, Schenectady, NY 12301, Dec. 1981.
Radio Noise Program, #M-2-82, Power Technologies, Inc., P.O.
Box 1058, Schenectady, NY 12301, Oct. 1984.
TLWorkstation Code: Version 1.0, vol. 1, Electric Power Re-
search Institute, 3412 Hillview Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304, July
1986.
TLWorkstation Code: Version 1.0, MULTI-FLASH Manual, vol.
5, Electric Power Research Institute, 3412 Hillview Ave., Palo
Alto, CA 94304, July 1986.
LICOR, Line Insulation Coordination Program, Power Tech-
nologies, Inc., P.O. Box 1058, Schenectady, NY 12301, May
1987.
The Electromagnetic Transients Program, EMTP Version 1.O,
The EMTP Development Coordination Group, July 1986.
Gary C. Thomann received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D.
degrees in electrical engineering from the University of
Kansas in 1965, 1967, and 1970, respectively. From 1970
to 1975, Dr. Thomann worked for the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration Earth Resources
Laboratory in Slidell, Louisiana, as a Principal investi-
gator, performing remote sensing experiments. In 1975,
he joined the faculty of Wichita State University (WSU),
Wichita, Kansas. In September 1987, he joined Power
Technologies, Inc., and is presently a Senior Engineer
in the Overhead Transmission Systems Unit.
Dr. Thomann is a member of Eta Kappa Nu, Phi Kappa
Phi, Sigma Xi, ASEE, the lEEE Power Engineering So-
ciety; he is a Senior Member of the IEEE and is a Reg-
istered Professional Engineer in Kansas.
April 1988 17