Experimental validation Full-scale

As part of the development and validation of Anisopter technology for overhead line towers, a destructive mechanical test of a full-scale structural module was carried out, designed to reproduce the key features of the Anisopter tube-and-node construction system.

The test made it possible to experimentally investigate both the global structural behaviour and the local response of its most characteristic elements, particularly the nodes and their bolted connections.

The structure withstood loads of up to approximately 130% of the design loads before failure occurred, providing experimental validation of the mechanical behaviour of the Anisopter structural concept under severe loading conditions.

Test setup and post-collapse condition

The full-scale module was installed at the Electromontaj tower testing station in Bucharest, where a dedicated system was set up for the controlled application of loads.

The following video shows the complete test setup, including the structural module, its connection to the foundation system, and the device used to apply the loads. Finally, we show the condition of the structure after the destructive test.

Overview of the destructive mechanical test

The overview provides a complete view of the test progression and the global behaviour of the structure up to failure. The module was subjected to a progressively increasing load until its ultimate capacity was reached.

The test makes it possible to directly observe the response of a full-scale Anisopter structure and to experimentally assess the combined behaviour of the tubes, nodes, and connections under increasing loads.

Behaviour of the nodes

Two additional cameras focused specifically on nodes A and B, allowing their behaviour during the final stages of the test to be analysed in greater detail.

These recordings make it possible to observe the local response of the nodes and the members connected to them, as well as the initiation and propagation of the structural failure mechanism. The tests demonstrated the high robustness of the Anisopter node system and its welded and bolted connections, even when the module was loaded beyond its design loads.

The step before testing the complete tower.

The results obtained provide a full-scale experimental validation of the Anisopter structural and assembly system and provide essential information for its further development.

The behaviour observed during the test, including the structure’s ability to withstand loads beyond the design loads before failure, supports progression towards the manufacture and testing of complete Anisopter towers for overhead power lines.