Pole structures that support overhead lines do no operate or react to the applied loads in isolation. They are interconnected to other structures via very strong wire/cable attachments. This results in all pole structures in an area acting more like a system of interconnected structures; creating different behavior than if they were analyzed in isolation.


This section will describe several tests to assure that the fundamental interactions of a pole structure working in a system of structures, is adequately assessed.


The ability of wire tensions to adjust while their supporting structures deflect is generically called load nonlinearity, as they are no longer static loads. The 2025 CSA Standard C22.3 No.1 Overhead Systems is one of the first to require a multiple pole analysis whenever including load nonlinearity effects.


The scenarios to be evaluated and results required are the same as for the Single Pole Structural Analysis, with the exception that four(4) poles in every direction from the pole being tested will be assumed to be a tangent line of the exact same pole type and line configuration. The fourth pole will be assumed to be fixed for deflection purposes, resulting in the deflection of three(3) adjacent poles and four(4) spans of wire attachments being considered.