Structural Analysis

ArcFM Structural Analysis allows you to perform "what if" scenarios to evaluate the structural integrity of a support structure and its associated features. Access the Structural Analysis tool by clicking the Structural Analysis button on the Designer toolbar or right-clicking a selected pole in the Attribute Editor and selecting Structural Analysis from the resulting menu. Structural Analysis performs "what-if" scenarios. Changes made to features in the Structural Analysis tool will NOT affect your map or the geodatabase.

How the Structural Analysis Tool is Organized

The Structural Analysis tool consists of a main window with six tabbed pages including: Ruling Span, Transverse Pole Strength, Bisector Guy, Dead End Guy, Cross Arm, and Clearance. Refer to Table 1 for a description of the tabbed pages. Each tabbed page contains one or more of seven "frames" which allow you to modify structural analysis parameters. These frames include: Clearance Parameters, Cross Arm, Conductors, Guys and Anchors, Overcapacity Factors, Pole, and Ruling Span. Refer to Table 2 for a description of the modifiable parameters contained on each frame.

Structural Analysis Window: Example showing Transverse Pole Strength tabbed page

Performing a Structural Analysis

You can analyze multiple structural analysis scenarios by modifying parameters for ruling span, pole strength, pole loading, and clearance. As you modify your support structure parameters, Structural Analysis performs calculations to determine factors such as Wind Moment on Pole, Maximum Resisting Moment, Total Transverse Load, and Guy Capacity. When a value exceeds its capacity according to the Structural Analysis calculations, the field is highlighted in red. Structural Analysis calculations, as well as the associated tables, are described in the Configuring ArcFM Solution online help in ArcCatalog.

Overcapacity factors are available for configuration on every tab except Clearance.
Pole parameters are configurable on every tab except Ruling Span.
Ruling span parameters are configurable only on the Ruling Span tab. The Ruling Span Length Tool is available only on the Ruling Span frame of the Ruling Span tab.
Conductor parameters are configurable on every tab except Ruling Span. The Add Span and Show Span Information buttons are available on every Conductor frame. The Multiple Span Length Tool is available on the Conductor frame on the Transverse Pole Strength, Bisector Guy, Cross Arm, and Clearance tabs. Add Span, Remove Span, Span Properties, Pin and Insulator Properties, Highlight Span, Zoom to Span, NESC Clearances, and REA Clearances options or lists are available by right clicking any span in the Conductors frame list and choosing the appropriate menu option.
Guy and Anchor parameters are configurable on the Guys and Anchors frame on the Bisector Guy and Dead End Guy tabs. Add Guy, Remove Guys, Guy Properties, Anchor Properties, Attach Guys to Anchor, Highlight Guy, and Zoom to Guy options are available by right clicking any guy in the Guys and Anchors frame list and choosing the appropriate menu option.
Cross arm loading parameters are configurable on the Cross Arm frame of the Cross Arm tab.
Clearance parameters are configurable on the Clearance Parameters frame of the Clearance tab.
Structural Analysis options can be configured and accessed from the Designer toolbar via Tools-> Designer Options -> Structural Analyis (tab).

Managing Structural Analysis Scenarios

Use the File menu (Figure 1) to open, save, and manage the Structural Analysis scenarios. Manage Scenarios (Figure 2) allows you to rename and remove previously created scenarios.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Table 1: Desription of Tabbed Pages

Tabbed Page	Description	Frame(s) Included on Tabbed Page
Ruling Span	Allows you to select the most appropriate ruling span by comparing the Design Ruling Span to the Actual Ruling Span	Overcapacity Factors, Ruling Span
Transverse Pole Strength	Allows you to select the most appropriate pole by analyzing pole strength when considering loading factors such as wind on the wire and the pole, wire tensions, and overcapacity factors	Overcapacity Factors, Pole, Conductors
Bisector Guy	Allows you to select the most appropriate bisector guy by analyzing the guyed structure's contribution to pole loading	Overcapacity Factors, Pole, Conductors, Guys and Anchors
Dead End Guy	Allows you to select the most appropriate dead end guy by analyzing the guyed structure's contribution to pole loading	Overcapacity Factors, Pole, Conductors, Guys and Anchors
Cross Arm	Allows you to select the most appropriate cross arm by evaluating the strength of the insulators, pins, and cross arms on the pole	Overcapacity Factors, Pole, Conductors, Cross Arm
Clearance	Allows you to analyze the amount of clearance necessary for a conductor	Clearance Parameters, Pole, Conductors

Table 2: Description of Frames

Frame	Modifiable Structural Analysis Parameters	Tools/Buttons
Clearance Parameters	Clearance Standard, Clearance Category	N/A
Conductors	Design Ruling Span, Reference Span, Reference Angle, Length, Type, Function, Operating Voltage, Attachment Height, Quantity, Cross Arm, Pin Attachment, Maximum Conductor Tension	Multiple Span Length Tool, Show Span Information, Add Span
Cross Arm	Framings, Cross Arm Configuration, Insulator (phase), Insulator (neutral), Cross Arm Dimensions, Pin (phase), Pin (neutral)	Save Pole Framing to Database
Guys and Anchors	Type, Construction, Quantity, Attachment Height, Design Lead, Use of Existing Anchor (if applicable)	Add Guy
Overcapacity Factors	Loading District, Construction Grade, Soil Class	N/A
Pole	Height, Material, Class, Setting Depth, Depth Adjusted for Equipment, Pole Top Attachment Height,	N/A
Ruling Span	Design Ruling Span, Span Number and Length	Ruling Span Length Tool

When opening the Structural Analysis tool, you may receive an error message about missing tables. This means the appropriate tables haven't been added to your database. See Configure Structural Analysis in the Configuring ArcFM Solution online help in ArcCatalog.

If the Structural Analysis form is hiding a highlighted feature, the form will become transparent to make the highlighted feature visible when it flashes.