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656 P a r t V I I I : M e c h a n i c a l C o n s t r u c t i o n a n d I n s t a l l a t i o n T e c h n i q u e s<br />

Wind<br />

Beam<br />

antenna<br />

Mast<br />

Rotator<br />

h<br />

Concrete<br />

pedestal<br />

Figure 29.1 <strong>Antenna</strong> atop freestanding tower.<br />

this highly oversimplified example, the wind is assumed to be applying a perfectly<br />

horizontal force to one side of the entire system. In response, the tower and antenna will<br />

move sideways, in the same direction as the wind, unless prevented from doing so.<br />

Clearly, the first requirement of a tower installation is a strong, solid base!<br />

With the base securely anchored, the tendency of the tower is to overturn. Here it<br />

is helpful to think of the tall, thin tower as a form of lever. To keep the math simple, for<br />

the moment assume the tower members are extremely thin so that the force of the<br />

wind on them is much, much smaller than the force on the antenna at the top and can<br />

be ignored. The force of the wind blowing on the antenna at the top of the tower creates<br />

a moment arm (M) or torque on the base of the tower with a magnitude equal to the<br />

height (H) of the tower multiplied by the horizontal force (F) of the wind pushing on<br />

the antenna:<br />

MANT = HANT × F<br />

(29.1)<br />

ANT

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