Description
Cable stays are widely used in power distribution and telecommunication sectors to support utility poles. A cable stay consists of a steel cable and rod system that ties the pole to the ground to provide lateral stability. The cable is normally tied to the pole using a number of different details and the other end it is tied to a rod which is embedded into the ground. As a steel structure where a part is buried under the ground, corrosion is inevitable. Corrosion degrades the structural capacity of cable stays over time by reducing the effective cross-sectional area in carrying the load. Failure of cable stays can lead to utility pole failures which can pose significant economic impacts and safety concerns. Therefore, reliable and accurate condition assessment of cable stays is crucial for safe and reliable performance of power distibution and telecommnication networks. This paper investigates the ground level and below ground corrosion of cable stays. 25 in-service cable stays in Victoria, Australia are uprooted to conduct corrosion assessment and the results of corrosion assessment are presented in this paper. Further, a condition assessment framework for cable stays is proposed to facilitate the asset management team in planning the replacement and strengthening schedule for cable stays.
