Summary

Corrosion of guyed tower anchors is fast becoming an issue of critical importance. Towers designed and built without consideration to corrosion control are in jeopardy. A tower's age is a key factor when considering the potential for structural damage due to corrosion, but age alone cannot predict the extent of corrosion damage. Towers scheduled to be built should include corrosion control measures. Existing towers should be investigated for damage and then protected against corrosion. Several methods exist to mitigate corrosion of buried tower components. Cathodic Protection has been proven to be the best when considering all the variables of the corrosion cell.

Just as construction of each tower requires careful consideration of structural design, each tower site must be assessed to determine appropriate corrosion control measures to be taken. The long-term benefits of proper corrosion control will far exceed short-term cost savings of choosing none. As technology and awareness increase, appropriate corrosion control is becoming an important industry standard.

References

[1] Control of Pipeline Corrosion, A-W. Peabody, National Association of Corrosion Engineers, Houston, Texas.

[2] Bascs Electricity of Cathodic Protection, Robert E. Gill, Technical Paper, National Association of Corrosion Engineers, Houston, Texas.

[3] Corrosion Control For Underground Metallic Structures, John H. Fitzgerald, III, P.E., The Hinchman Company, Detroit, Michigan.

[4] Structural Standards For Steel Antenna Towers and Antenna Supporting Structures, EIA/TIA-222-E, Electronics Industries Association, Washington, DC.

[5] Antennas, Towers, and Antenna-Supporting Structures, Canadian Standard Association, CAN/CSA S37-M86, Rexdale, (Toronto) Ontario, Canada.

Introduction | History | What is Corrosion? | How does the corrosion cell affect anchor supports?
How can corrosion be mitigated on anchors? | Corrosion on existing structures | Summary