Research Information System
Applied Sciences (Switzerland), vol.15, no.19, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Line traps are critical components of power line carrier systems, enabling remote control signaling, voice communication, and inter-substation control within electrical transmission and distribution networks. Despite their importance, limited research has addressed their seismic performance, particularly under near-fault and far-fault ground motions. This study addresses this gap by experimentally and numerically evaluating a full-scale 170 kV line trap. Ambient Vibration Tests (AVTs), using Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition (EFDD), and shake table testing established its modal and seismic response characteristics. A finite element (FE) model was then developed and calibrated using the experimental results. Dynamic analyses were conducted to evaluate the structural response under both near-fault and far-fault ground motions. Experimental findings revealed that the seismic response of the line trap increased with height, with the upper segment experiencing over four times the base acceleration. Numerical analyses further demonstrated that near-fault ground motions induced significantly higher displacement and acceleration responses than far-fault records. These findings collectively constitute a detailed investigation into the seismic performance of a full-scale line trap, emphasizing the pivotal role of ground motion characteristics in the structural evaluation of substation apparatus.