A breakaway concept for timber utility poles. Paper prepared for the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Highway Research Board, Washington, D.C., January, 1974.

The feasibility of modifying existing timber utility poles so they will readily break away upon impact was investigated. Various drilled holes and groove patterns were experimentally examined during thirteen pendulum tests of full-size. Class 4-40 poles using a mass of 4000 lbs striking the specimen at 20 mph.