Wind Induced Vibration Analysis of Hat Sectioned Highway Sign Pole for Legibility

Abstract

Transportation authority always tries to improve the road safety. As the role of the road
signs used by them is; to prove key information through warning, guiding and regulating the
road riders, the highway sign poles are vital element of road transportation system. It
consists of a sign board supported by hat sectioned beam. Their main function is; to assist
the driver to drive the vehicles appropriately and safely. So they are designed for all season
situations. A problem in traffic sign readability may leads to unsafe driving behaviors. Also
any flaws in it lead to an accident possibility of the road vehicles. This paper deals with an
effect of stormy winds that causes undue vibration and has a detrimental effect on drivers’
vision. A methodical approach is applied that includes vibration analysis of hat sectioned
sign pole to ensure its frequency within safe limit specified by the concerned regulatory
bodies. Numerical method is used to verify the obtained result.