Aeroelastic model design and sensitivity analysis of a complicated steel truss arch tower to skew incident winds based on wind tunnel tests

Abstract

An aeroelastic model design method of a complicated steel truss arch tower was proposed and the response features subjected to skew incident wind forces were presented via experimental approach. At the geometric scaling of 1:40, the bars of aeroelastic model were designed and manufactured with scaled appearance, of which the rigidities are scaled based on the classification grouping to the dimensions and weights are compensated. The buckling analysis and checking calculation of members’ slenderness ratio were carried out. Wind tunnel tests on the completed stage and two key construction stages were conducted with various skew incident angles. Otherwise, the sensitivity coefficient of the y directional extreme displacement for the completed tower in turbulent flow was analyzed. The results show that the wind load in y direction has much more effect on the structure and the wind induced responses meet the design requirements. The maximum y directional extreme displacement at the reference wind speed appears within the range of wind incident angles 0°~30°. The decrease trend of the y directional extreme displacement of the completed tower in turbulent flow in the wind incident angle range of 30°~80° is bigger than that in other angles. • The aeroelastic model design method of a complicated steel truss arch tower with multi-end constraints has been proposed. • The buckling analysis and checking calculation of members’ slenderness ratio for the model have been carried out. • The complicated aeroelastic model has been manufactured and validated. • The dimensionless sensitivity coefficient has been used to analyze the response sensitivity of the model to skew wind.