29/05/2024
Construction of 132/33 kV Tower Plinth in a 132 /33 kV Substation
After the soil test is carried out to know the bearing capacity of the foundation soil, the tower plinth is designed. The steel tensile stress and concrete mix design are carried out.
In a 132/33 kV Substation, the tower is arranged in a bay. A bay consists of two towers structures connected by a beam structure at a height of about 10 - 13 m
Each tower has four structural steel legs. Each leg is held in place by four or three anchor bolts
Below is the procedure for constructing the Tower Plinth in a Substation.
1. From the Substation layout drawing, the Surveyor uses the total station to set out the tower points. The plinth center ls very important.
2. After setting out of the tower points, the excavation begins. Before the excavation is carried out, the finished grade level value is noted and the Top of Concrete (TOC) value is noted and used as reference for excavation height. The level instrument is used to determine the heights.
The excavation is usually carried out with excavator unless the soil needs Pile foundation.
3. After excavation, the pit is cut to appropriate size: length, width, and height. It is then compacted.
4. With the aid of the center lines: x and y, and the conical and bubble plum, the center lines of the plinth are fixed in the pit
5. The blinding of the base follows with the casting of the PCC - plain cenent concrete.
6. The PCC is cured, the concrete casting of the base follows.The positions of the reinforcements are marked on the PCC in the pit and reinforcements are placed with proper bracing.
7. The base of the plinth is cast with dense graded concrete and well vibrated. Then, properly cured.
8. The fixing of the formwork follows. The height of the plinth is usually from 1.5 - 1.9 m. The formwork must be strong and properly braced.
The Engineer on site must request for the anchor bolts details for him to fabricate the template.The template could be fabricated with angle bars or 16 mm rods
9. Concrete casting of the plinth. The concrete mix must be a dense graded mix to avoid cracking in future due to extreme weather conditions..Before casting is carried out, the template and anchor bolts must be properly fixed using the intially established centre lines During casting, concrete must be well vibrated. It is advisable to cast one half each leg first , then return to complete.This will avoid the swaying of the plinths and the shape will be maintained. After concrete casting then, it is well cured.
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