Abstract

The collapse of transmission towers involves a series of complex problems, including geometric nonlinearity, material nonlinearity, dynamic nonlinearity, and the failure of members. Simulation of the process of collapse is difficult using traditional finite element method (FEM), which is generated from continuum and variation principle, whereas the finite particle method (FPM) enforces equilibrium on each point. Particles are free to separate from one another, which is advantageous in the simulation of the structural collapse. This paper employs the finite particle method (FPM) to simulate the collapse of a transmission steel tower under earthquake ground motions; the three-dimensional (3D) finite particle model using MATLAB and the 3D finite element model using ANSYS of the transmission steel tower are established, respectively. And the static and elastic seismic response analyses indicate that the results of the FPM agree well with those of the FEM. To simulate the collapse of the transmission steel tower, a failure criterion based on the ideal elastic-plastic model and a failure mode are proposed. Finally, the collapse simulation of the transmission steel towers subjected to unidirectional earthquake ground motion and the collapse seismic fragility analysis can be successfully carried out using the finite particle method. The result indicates that the transmission steel tower has better seismic safety performance and anticollapse ability.

Highlights

  • The breakdown or collapse of transmission towers is common during an earthquake

  • The collapse simulation of the transmission steel towers subjected to unidirectional and three-dimensional earthquake ground motions can be successfully carried out using the finite particle method

  • Software ANSYS and software MATLAB are used to establish the model of the transmission tower structure by the finite element method (FEM) and the finite particle method (FPM), respectively

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Summary

Introduction

The breakdown or collapse of transmission towers is common during an earthquake. In the United States, the Landers earthquake in 1992 and the Northridge earthquake in 1994 severely damaged the transmission system, respectively [1]. Numerical simulation of the collapse process of structures is usually based on explicit integration of the finite element program. (2) The discrete element method (DEM): according to the Newtonian mechanics, the explicit time integration is adopted to solve governing equations and discontinuous problems involving the contact and collision between elements. The objective of this work is to establish a general finite particle method framework for simulating the collapse process of the transmission steel tower, including the discretization of the structure, motion equation of particles, the internal force calculation, and the explicit time integration and solution. The collapse simulation of the transmission steel towers subjected to unidirectional and three-dimensional earthquake ground motions can be successfully carried out using the finite particle method

Description of Finite Particle Method
Establishment and Verification of Transmission Tower Model
Methods
Collapse Analysis of the Transmission Tower
Findings
Conclusions
Full Text
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