Mick

Mar 12 2009, 08:17 PM

SPreston

Mar 11 2009, 07:26 PM

You are deliberately dishonest. The cut goes through the bottom portion of the cast aluminum breakaway base which has strengthening ridges cast into it. The base is stronger there and it is not a shear point. That particular base was most definitely cut off by a plasma torch or saw.

This angle shows the cut going right through the strengthening ridges of the base end. The base would never shear there and it is not designed to shear there.

No need to be insulting. I am not claiming to be an expert on metal fracture or shearing, but there is nothing wrong with speculating or questioning something.

Isn't is possible that those poles might break there at the bottom if the stress was applied from near the top of the pole and not the base? Has your research included opinions of the people who designed or manufactured the poles?

I have seen thick steel cut with plasma and carbon arc torches, The thicker stuff had very sloppy looking cuts. Lots of slag and jagged cuts. I'm not sure how messy a plasma torch is on thinner aluminum or steel. The discoloration near the bottom could be soot or discoloration from a hot torch. It looks like it could also be the same crap that gets onto things when hit with a weedeater that is chopping through grass and weeds.