Pipe tower, also named tubular tower, all the frames be made pipe, other parts is pipe or angle steel, connected by flange, bolts, nuts and washers. Angle tower(angular steel), connected by bolt, nuts and washers. The two style can be used as communication towers to load antennas and other brackets, and used widely.

Are 4 leg towers stronger than 3 leg towers?

Like any well engineered product or project the design engineer starts with a performance specification from the customer or end user. When the customer specifies the performance in a competitive bid environment all of the bidders will tailor their design to meet the performance specified by the client without exceeding it or they will risk their bid price disqualifying them due to overdesign. The answer to this question is that towers which meet the design criteria and do not exceed it are equal.

What is the best way to compare a 3 leg pipe tower to a 4 leg angle tower?

All too often customers compare costs on a material only basis not considering all the cost involved in building a tower site. A performance comparable all angle 4 leg tower typically requires 20-25% more steel than a comparable 3 leg pipe tower. This is partially due to the greater strength of pipe steel versus angle steel in a kilogram by kilogram comparison. Pipe also benefits from shape factor advantages of up to 33% right in the basic engineering calculations that angle does not benefit from, due to the more aerodynamic shape of the pipe.

The cost to manufacture the angle tower is typically less on a weight comparison basis but once you factor in foundation cost, erection cost and time to get the site on the air the overall cost of a 3 leg pipe tower is typically less.

Some other reasons for this include that the 4 leg all angle tower typically has significantly more pieces including nuts and bolts and splice plates and other connection components that are needed to assemble the tower. The 3 leg pipe tower normally includes integrally welded connection components which actually eliminates many of the extra pieces that are needed in the all angle tower. Although the 3 leg pipe tower can be more expensive than the 4 leg all angle tower when compared on a kilogram by kilogram basis, installation is much easier, faster and less expensive. The angle tower on the other hand can be fabricated from less costly angle rather than pipe and it can be fabricated in a computerized angle line. The best way to compare costs is on an installed basis so the owner doesn’t have to try to calculate the pros and cons of each type of tower – simply compare the bottom line or installed cost and then look to see if there is any further benefit to being on air faster!In common when compare costs, we only considering the tower body cost except tower site. In fact installation cost, installation time take a large part of the whole cost. Only considering the material angle 4 leg tower typically requires 20-25% more steel than a comparable 3 leg pipe tower. This is partially due to the greater strength of pipe steel versus angle steel in a kilogram by kilogram comparison. Pipe also benefits from shape factor advantages of up to 33% right in the basic engineering calculations that angle does not benefit from, due to the more aerodynamic shape of the pipe.