The Earthquake Engineering Online Archive

Seismic evaluation and analysis of 230-kV disconnect switches

Gilani, Amir S.; Whittaker, Andrew S.; Fenves, Gregory L.; Chen, Chun-Hao; Ho, Henry; Fujisaki, Eric M.

PEER-2000/06, Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, 2000-07, 222 pages (400/P33/2000-06)

Five 230-kV disconnect switches were selected for testing and evaluation, as switches of this rating are known to be vulnerable to the effects of earthquake shaking. Switches tested included two horizontal-break and three vertical-break switches and switches with both porcelain and composite polymer insulators. Also switches with both cast aluminum and welded steel base hardware were tested. First, an individual pole of each switch was mounted directly on the simulator platform. Static and resonance search tests were conducted to determine the dynamic properties of the posts. Earthquake tests were then conducted to see if the poles were robust. Following these tests, three-pole (phase) switches were mounted on a stiff, low-profile frame, similar to a frame proposed by PG&E for new construction, and tested.

Available online: http://peer.berkeley.edu/publications/peer_reports/reports_2000/0006.pdf