Fault Detection in Transmission Towers Using State Observers

Abstract

Over the years, the demand for tools that facilitate the analysis of static and dynamic systems only increases, and the fidelity of the results obtained with these tools is also another point of interest. The present work aims to analyze towers of transmission lines used by companies responsible for producing and selling electricity. The analyses made were based on the fact that each element of the tower behaves like a beam element and the finite element method was used for the development of mathematical models, with the structures being subjected to general and random forces simulating winds. The results showed that simple and small forces cause structures to suffer from vibrations of large amplitudes resulting in accidents, since the most important are the existing frequencies, leading them to resonances. It was also used the method of state observers to reconstruct unmeasured or difficult to access states and detect possible failures and/or crack propagation. The open/closed crack model was adopted and the irregularity caused by the crack was observed in the local change in stiffness and tension.