Products

tnxTower Overview

Complete Standards Support

The program analyzes towers using the ANSI/TIA-222-H Standard or any of the previous TIA/EIA Standards back to RS-222 (1959). Steel design is checked using the TIA/EIA Standards, AISC ASD 9th Edition or the AISC LRFD Specifications, as applicable. The Canadian Standard CSA S37-01 is available as well.

Powerful Analysis & Design

tnxTower's rapid model creation tools, 3-D frame-truss models and automatic wind force and ice loading generation capabilities are just a few of the features that make this industry-standard software the premier choice for all types of communication towers.

Top-notch Graphical Presentation

Graphical display of tower geometry, appurtenances, internal forces, stresses and displacements are created automatically.

Extensive graphics plots include material take-off, shear-moment, leg compression, displacement, twist, feed line, guy anchor and stress plots. tnxTower contains unique features such as True Cable behavior, hog rod take-up, foundation stiffness and much more.

tnxTower screenshot
Self-supporting tower
tnxTower screenshot
Monopole
tnxTower screenshot
Guyed tower
tnxTower screenshot
Guyed tower with candelabra

Specifications

tnxTower is a general-purpose modeling, analysis, and design program created specifically for communications towers.

The following Standards are currently implemented:
RS-222, RS-222-A, RS-222-B, EIA-222-C, EIA-222-D, EIA-222-E, TIA/EIA-222-F, ANSI/TIA-222-G (including TIA-222-G-1 and TIA-222-G-2), ANSI/TIA-222-H, and CSA S37-01.

Base Tower Types Supported
  • Three or four sided guyed towers
  • Three or four sided self-supporting towers
  • Ground mounted monopoles (round stepped, round tapered, 18-, 16-, 12-, and 8-sided)
  • Three or four sided guyed monopoles
Upper Antenna Types Supported
  • Three or four sided latticed poles
  • Tubular poles (round stepped, round tapered, 18-, 16-, 12-, and 8-sided)
  • Candelabra tops
Analysis and Design
  • Automatic generation of nodes and elements for 3D frame-truss, truss, or beam-column tower models
  • Linear and non-linear (P-delta, cable behavior) finite element analysis (FEA)
  • Three modes available: analysis only, analysis and members check, or analysis and lowest weight-optimized design
  • Automatic determination of pressure coefficients, wind pressures, ice loads and resulting forces on the tower
  • Optimized feed line Effective Projected Area calculations to minimize required wind loading
  • Automatic calculation of feed lines shielding
  • Calculation of center of pressure due to offset feed lines
  • Automatic calculation of K-factors for solid round and single angle members
  • Optional inner feed line support tower
  • Check or design of bolts in tower members
  • Export to RISA-3D for additional analysis and design options
Data Entry
  • Powerful, easy to use spreadsheets for quick model generation and input verification
  • Adaptable three-level structure definition: base tower, upper antenna structure, and top antenna pole
  • Guy cables generation with varying radii and guy anchor elevations
  • Feed lines, discrete loads (loads from antennas, mounts, and other appurtenances), dishes, and user defined loads specification anywhere on the tower
  • Comprehensive databases of structural shapes, assemblies, feed lines, dishes, antennas, mounts, and other appurtenances
  • Powerful Database Manager, allowing full customization and synchronization across networks
  • Flexible selection of units: US Customary (decimal or architectural notation) or SI Metric, with user-controlled display precision
Graphical User Interface
  • Tabbed, dynamically updated display pages provide instant input verification for structural components and appurtenances
  • Tower geometry page with zoom, pan and rotate model capabilities
  • The structure may be viewed in both unloaded and deflected shape
  • Individual member properties such as shape and element number can be displayed
  • Material list page showing member sizes, weights, and graphical display of tower sections with reactions and tables of user defined components. User notes may also be added to this view
  • Plot plan page showing boundary of tower and acreage required for 15' clearance
  • Leg compression plots also displaying the leg compression and tension capacity of the tower
  • Mast shear and moment plots
  • Detailed tower deflection, tilt and twist diagrams
  • Guy anchor plots showing guy forces and guy anchor reactions (for guyed towers only)
  • Feed line plot. Displays feed lines in each of the faces of the tower
  • Stress plot. Graphically displays the stress condition of members in each face of the tower
  • Wind pressure and ice thickness diagrams
  • Base plate and anchor bolts views (monopoles only)
Results Output
  • Extensive, customizable output reports, viewable directly in Microsoft Word or Microsoft Word Viewer
  • Finite Element Analysis results for detailed solution diagnostics
  • Input data and results in XML format for machine processing
  • DXF export of model geometry

Sample Output

To view a sample output created by tnxTower, please select from the list below:

Guyed Tower

Free-Standing Tower

Monopole


Output Verification - Hand Calculations

Hand Verification - Self-Supporting Tower TIA-222-G

Hand Verification - Self-Supporting Tower 222-F

Hand Verification - Self-Supporting Tower 222-B, C

Hand Verification - Monopole