Students: Katheryn Neumann
Project: Combined Hazard and Vulnerability Analysis for Power Transmission Lines | View Poster (PDF)
Major: Integrated Degree in Engineering, Arts and Sciences (IDEAS), Civil and Environmental Engineering
Advisor: William Best & Paolo Bocchini
Abstract
Power transmission lines are critical infrastructure assets vulnerable to various natural hazards, particularly in regions prone to hurricane and flooding weather events like Florida. Hurricane hazard assessments predominantly focus on wind velocity, however, there is also the crucial influence of wind direction on the structural integrity of transmission towers. This study proposes a combined hazard and vulnerability analysis to assess the susceptibility of power transmission lines to wind-related risks, specifically targeting Florida's tower landscape.
Using IN-CORE, the impact of wind direction is investigated using historical data from Hurricane Ian. The study's results allow the determination of how to evaluate the vulnerability of transmission towers comprehensively. Findings reveal that wind direction does impact the structural response of towers. Generalizing wind direction to be the same for each tower can lead to under or over-estimating the potential functionality of the power network. Furthermore, additional factors such as age and tower design are discussed as other factors that significantly contribute to vulnerability.
The implications of this research underscore the necessity of incorporating wind direction and other multifaceted elements of vulnerability into hazard assessments for power transmission infrastructure. By recognizing the nuanced influence of environmental variables, stakeholders can better prioritize mitigation strategies, enhance system resilience, and minimize downtime during extreme weather events. This study is a crucial step towards safeguarding power transmission networks, using engineering and modeling, particularly in regions susceptible to hurricanes and tropical storms like Florida.
About Kathryn Neumann
Kathryn Neumann is a Junior Undergraduate Student in the IDEAS program at Lehigh University, studying Civil Engineering and Environmental Studies. The IDEAS program allows for combining courses in both engineering and the arts and sciences to create a unique, interdisciplinary theme to meet today’s multifaceted demands.
Her theme concentration focuses on sustainable cities and infrastructure. As a Clare Booth Luce Scholar for the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, she has been researching regional resilience modeling under Professor Paolo Bocchini. The nature of her research is an intersection between environmental/social studies and civil engineering, looking at the resilience of communities in the face of worsening weather events. Her career interests include urban planning and applications of resilience modeling.