"Stray Alternating Current Problems in Concrete Power Poles"

Aghajani Koupaee, Abbass, Golozar, Mohammad Ali, Saatchi, Ahmad, Reisi, Keyvan, Urgen M. , Shabani, Saeed,  

Materials  Performance, Vol. 52, No. 5, May 2013

Abbstract :

Stray current is defined as current that flows through unwanted paths. Current leakagge from high-voltage power lines through a concrete pole can damage the concrete and cause other serious problems in power networks.

High-voltage power lines are isolated from the ground by some electrical ressistances are not constant and vary with ambient effects. If concrete pile quality and technology  are low, a deposit layer from air pollution forms on the insulators, and if grounding systems do not work well, high-voltage alternating current (AC) can creep from the surface on the insulator into the concrete pole.