Documentos de Académico
Documentos de Profesional
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Flagpoles–Design
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Flagpoles–Design
flagpole on a building stands at to compute the wind loads on the Compared to some other
183m on a building towering over flagpole7. formulas available, these seem to
Sydney, in Australia. Figure 1 shows To the author’s knowledge no give comparable results for smaller
several of these world’s tallest Indian Code provisions exist for flags (say, 4 ft x 6 ft), but become
flagpoles, all made of steel. calculating the wind load acting on very conservative for larger ones or
Statistics about Indian flagpoles the flag. However the provisions of high wind velocity. By the way, if a
are not readily available, although a IS 875-Part 3 may be used for flag is mounted on a very tall
number of tall flagpoles have been calculating the wind load acting on building (or a pole exceeding 10m
built in India. Figure 2 shows the the pole body (while designing the height), then one must add a height
steel flagpole for Rajeev Gandhi flagpole tower at Sriperambathur, and gust factor to these equation.
Memorial at Sriperambathur, we calculated the wind load by According to the guide
Chennai, designed by the author. considering the full area of the flag specification, flag loading is a result
and multiplying it with a drag of the wind acting on the flag, which
Specifications for coefficient of 1.25). in turn results in loading on the
pole2. The formulas used in the
Flagpole Design Flag Loading flagpole specification for flag
There are two loading types that
The earliest formula for calculating loadings are empirical and are
must be considered when
the wind load on flag was based on actual data taken from
designing a flagpole:
developed by the U.S. Navy and flight testing of different-sized flags
and different materials. Testing
consisted of connecting the test flag
to a tow line, which was then
connected through a load cell to an
airplane. This allowed for
continuous readings of the drag
force on the test flag. Wind load
data was recorded at different air
speeds. The empirical formulas in
the specification provide results that
reasonably match the data recorded
during testing.
The code provides formula for
calculating the wind load for nylon,
Figure 1: Height comparison of the world’s tallest flagpoles3 cotton and polyester flags as
below2.
♦ Flagpole loadings, and appears in the American Civil For nylon and cotton: F = 0.0010
♦ Flag loadings Engineer’s Handbook5. It is strictly (1.3 V)2 “Af Ch
Flagpole loadings consist of an empirical formula and was For polyester: F = 0.0014 x
dead loads and wind loads. The arrived at through some wind tunnel (1.3V)2 “Af Ch
dead loads include the weight of testing at the Naval Yard in where V= design wind velocity
the flagpole, the weight of the flag, Washington, D.C. According to this in mph.
and the weight of any hardware formula
and accessories that will be Force exerted by flag: F =
attached. The flagpole wind loads 0.0003*A*V1.9
consist of the pressure on the F = pounds
flagpole due to the wind and the A = flag area in ft2
wind drag on the flag. V = wind velocity in mph.
The design process presented Another formula was developed
by ANSI/NAAMM FP1001-97 consists by Hoerner and used extensively6.
of selecting a flagpole size, According to this the force exerted
determining the flag size to be by the flag is given by
flown, calculating the loadings on F = 0.000218*A*V2
the flagpole, and performing a Where the F, A, and V are the Figure 2: Flagpole at the
stress analysis to ensure the same as defined earlier. The results Rajiv Gandhi Memorial at
Sriperumbudur, designed
design meets the specification2. The of this formula were tested for flags by the author
flagpole specification uses ASCE 7 having a Length/Width ratio of 1.5.
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Flagpoles–Design
Flagpole Foundation
Foundation design must be
performed to meet applicable
building codes, and designers
Af = flag area in sq.ft. (However, when there is flag at the should exercise good engineering
Ch = 2.01 x (H/900)á where H = top of the pole, the wind loading judgment when designing flagpole
height of the pole in feet, and á = applied to the flag acts to dampen foundations. The Most common type
(2/9.5) the resonant movement of the pole, of flagpole installation is the in-
eliminating the banging sound). The ground foundation sleeve method
Flagpole Design geographic features such as which calls for 300mm of the
The flagpole loadings and the flag unobstructed flat land or low-level flagpole to be encased in the
loadings are used to calculate mountains, where wind can be ground sleeve for each 3m of
shear, bending moment, and axial channeled through an area, may exposed flagpole height. The
compressive forces on the flagpole. contribute to pole resonance 10. diameter of the sleeve should be at
The wind loadings are used to Turbulence created by aircraft or least 50mm greater than the
determine the shear force and the vehicular traffic also cause outside diameter of the flagpole
bending moment, and the dead resonance. AASHTO LTS with the area between the flagpole
load is used to calculate the axial specifications (2001) indicate that and the sleeve filled with dry sand.
compressive force. These forces are common light poles do not normally Sleeves with a 150mm diameter
then used to determine the actual exhibit fatigue problems. However, are supplied with a base plate and
stresses on the flagpole. It is Manis and Jones (2008) note that grounding spike (see Figure 3).
simple to calculate the stresses as such failures do occur. The Sleeves with a diameter of greater
the flagpole is a simple cantilever. flagpoles have different foundation than 150mm are supplied with a
A stress analysis may be performed anchoring system (especially short base plate, support plate, grounding
to ensure that the calculated flagpoles may not have base plates spike and, for ease of vertical
stresses are within the permissible or welds) and hence fatigue may alignment, steel centering wedges
limits as specified in ANSI/NAAMM not be a problem. Round and welded to the inside of the base
FP1001-97 or IS 800:2007. The octagonal tapered poles are less plate. For tall flagpoles, the
values given Table 1 may be used susceptible to vibration than square overturning of the foundation will be
as guidance for arriving at the size ones (The natural frequency of a critical and hence has to be
of flagpole member. This table is tapered pole varies along its length, checked properly11.
based on the U.S. manufacturing which makes it less likely to
data on flagpoles. develop overall resonance from a Fabrication and
Recently Ha (2006) proposed a constant wind). This problem may Erection
design formula for non-constrained also be minimized by using factory After the design work is completed,
flagpoles. For Long poles it may be or field installed dampers. Periodic fabrication can begin. Flagpole
necessary to check the tip maintenance and inspection of a fabrication consists of rolling,
deflection. flagpole can help determine if wind forming, and welding different steel
induced vibration is a concern. sections. Because each flagpole is
Wind Induced When a base plate is provided unique, the fabrication process is
for long flagpoles, it is important
Vibrations that the details of the attachment of
not limited to these tasks. Flagpoles
When the wind speed matches the may also be fabricated from
the pole to the base plate be such seamless steel tubing. Diminishing
natural frequency of the pole, there that “stress raisers” are avoided,
will always be resonance. When sections, welded together, form a
or, at least minimized. A simple graceful tapered appearance. Steel
there is no flag on the pole, it is circumferential weld, of adequate
quite common to hear cables flagpoles are mechanically cleaned
size, is usually the best. The use of and chemically etched to provide a
banging against the pole. This is vertical fins, occasionally welded
due to vibration of the pole smooth surface. A finishing coat is
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Flagpoles–Design
♦ ANSI/NAAMM FP1001-90, 4th Ed., Guide
Summary Specifications for Design of Metal Flagpoles,
Flagpoles are often constructed to National Association of Architectural Metal
display flags of countries or even flags Manufacturers (Available from
www.naamm.org)
of political parties. Many companies in
♦ Fadden, M., and Rajek ,J., “There’s a
USA offer readymade flagpoles of Flagpole Spec? The story behind the design
different sizes which can be bought and construction of the world’s tallest
and installed with ease. As the flag is a flagpoles”, Modern steel Construction, July
prominent and recognizable symbol of 2007
any country/party, the demand for ♦http://www.guinnessworldre-cords.com/
higher flagpoles is growing. Already adjudications/080716_Tallest_unsupported_
flagpoles having a height of more than flagpole.aspx
♦ Merriman, T., and Wiggin, T.H., American
130m have been built. These tall
Civil Engineer’s Handbook, Fifth Edition,
flagpoles require proper specifications John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1949,
for their design and construction. In 2263pp.
USA, the National Association of ♦ Hoerner, S. F., Fluid Dynamic Drag: Practical
Architectural Metal Manufacturers Information on Aerodynamic Drag and
(NAAMM) has published a guide Hydrodynamic Resistance, 2 nd edition,
specification that has been approved Hoerner Fluid Dynamics, 1965.
Figure 3: Simple to Install Flagpole base for
♦ SEI/ASCE 7-05: Minimum Design Loads for
short flagpoles by the American National Standard
Buildings and Other Structures, American
Institute (ANSI)2. This guide outlines the Society for Civil Engineers, Reston, 2005.
applied to the steel for maintenance design requirements for metal flagpoles. ♦ Ha, T.T., Non-constrained Flagpole Design
and aesthetics. Often it consists of In India, such guidelines are not Formula, Journal of Structural Engineering,
available, though the wind load on ASCE, Jan. 2006, Vol.132, No. 1, pp. 164-
two coats of two-part polyurethane 166.
flagpole body can be calculated using
primer and two polyurethane finish IS 875-Part 3. The important aspects of ♦ AASHTO LTS-4-M, Standard Specifications
coats. The standard colors often for Structural Supports for High Signs,
design of flagpoles and their foundation
Luminaires and Traffic Signals, 4th Edition,
used are: Aluminum (silver), Light along with their construction are American Association of State and Highway
Bronze, Medium Bronze, Dark discussed, which will be useful to those Transportation Officials, Jan-2001, 272 pp.
Bronze, Black or White. After involved in flagpole construction. ♦ Manis, P., and Jones W., Wind induced
vibrations on Light standards, Structure
fabrication is complete, the flagpole References magazine, Mar. 08, pp.14-15.
is shipped to its final destination ♦ IS 875:1987 Code of Practice for Design ♦ Subramanian N., and Vasanthi, V., Design
and erected. Loads (other than earthquake) for Buildings of Tower Foundations, The Indian Concrete
and Structures., Part-3, Wind Loads, Journal, Vol.64, No.3, March 1990, pp.
Second Revision, Bureau of Indian 135-141.
Standards, New Delhi, 1989.
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