Fragility Analysis of Power Transmission Tower Subjected to Wind–Sand Loads

With the increasing construction of power transmission towers in desert regions for the transportation of wind or solar energy, structural safety under wind and sand loads has become critical. Current design codes primarily account for wind loads on these towers, overlooking the effects of sand impa...

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Main Authors: Xiaoqian Ma, Jun Lu, Benliang Li, Weiguang Tian, Yaxiao Zhang, Peng Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/24/6339
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author Xiaoqian Ma
Jun Lu
Benliang Li
Weiguang Tian
Yaxiao Zhang
Peng Zhang
author_facet Xiaoqian Ma
Jun Lu
Benliang Li
Weiguang Tian
Yaxiao Zhang
Peng Zhang
author_sort Xiaoqian Ma
collection DOAJ
description With the increasing construction of power transmission towers in desert regions for the transportation of wind or solar energy, structural safety under wind and sand loads has become critical. Current design codes primarily account for wind loads on these towers, overlooking the effects of sand impact. This study presents a new model to simulate sand–steel interactions and evaluates the fragility of transmission towers under both wind-only and combined wind–sand loads. The impact model is grounded in Hertz contact theory, with equations of motion derived for the interaction between wind-driven sand particles and structural members, solved via the central difference method. A parametric study investigates the effects of wind speed and sand particle mass: (1) impact forces and maximum deformations increase with wind speed, with impact duration initially decreasing up to 20 m/s and then gradually increasing; (2) an increase in sand particle mass leads to greater impact deformation, force, and duration. Fragility analysis, using incremental dynamic analysis, reveals that sand particles significantly amplify the tower’s response at high wind speeds and increase failure probability across all wind attack angles. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating sand-impact effects in the design and assessment of power transmission towers in desert environments to ensure structural safety and reliable operation of critical energy infrastructure.
format Article
id doaj-art-a16482fd5c634d84bb93f631d5ce533a
institution Kabale University
issn 1996-1073
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Energies
spelling doaj-art-a16482fd5c634d84bb93f631d5ce533a2024-12-27T14:23:31ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732024-12-011724633910.3390/en17246339Fragility Analysis of Power Transmission Tower Subjected to Wind–Sand LoadsXiaoqian Ma0Jun Lu1Benliang Li2Weiguang Tian3Yaxiao Zhang4Peng Zhang5State Grid Economic and Technical Research Institute Co., Ltd., Beijing 102209, ChinaState Grid Economic and Technical Research Institute Co., Ltd., Beijing 102209, ChinaState Grid Economic and Technical Research Institute Co., Ltd., Beijing 102209, ChinaState Grid Economic and Technical Research Institute Co., Ltd., Beijing 102209, ChinaCollege of Transportion Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, ChinaCollege of Transportion Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, ChinaWith the increasing construction of power transmission towers in desert regions for the transportation of wind or solar energy, structural safety under wind and sand loads has become critical. Current design codes primarily account for wind loads on these towers, overlooking the effects of sand impact. This study presents a new model to simulate sand–steel interactions and evaluates the fragility of transmission towers under both wind-only and combined wind–sand loads. The impact model is grounded in Hertz contact theory, with equations of motion derived for the interaction between wind-driven sand particles and structural members, solved via the central difference method. A parametric study investigates the effects of wind speed and sand particle mass: (1) impact forces and maximum deformations increase with wind speed, with impact duration initially decreasing up to 20 m/s and then gradually increasing; (2) an increase in sand particle mass leads to greater impact deformation, force, and duration. Fragility analysis, using incremental dynamic analysis, reveals that sand particles significantly amplify the tower’s response at high wind speeds and increase failure probability across all wind attack angles. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating sand-impact effects in the design and assessment of power transmission towers in desert environments to ensure structural safety and reliable operation of critical energy infrastructure.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/24/6339wind–sand loadpower transmission towerHertz contact modeldynamic responsefragility analysis
spellingShingle Xiaoqian Ma
Jun Lu
Benliang Li
Weiguang Tian
Yaxiao Zhang
Peng Zhang
Fragility Analysis of Power Transmission Tower Subjected to Wind–Sand Loads
Energies
wind–sand load
power transmission tower
Hertz contact model
dynamic response
fragility analysis
title Fragility Analysis of Power Transmission Tower Subjected to Wind–Sand Loads
title_full Fragility Analysis of Power Transmission Tower Subjected to Wind–Sand Loads
title_fullStr Fragility Analysis of Power Transmission Tower Subjected to Wind–Sand Loads
title_full_unstemmed Fragility Analysis of Power Transmission Tower Subjected to Wind–Sand Loads
title_short Fragility Analysis of Power Transmission Tower Subjected to Wind–Sand Loads
title_sort fragility analysis of power transmission tower subjected to wind sand loads
topic wind–sand load
power transmission tower
Hertz contact model
dynamic response
fragility analysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/24/6339
work_keys_str_mv AT xiaoqianma fragilityanalysisofpowertransmissiontowersubjectedtowindsandloads
AT junlu fragilityanalysisofpowertransmissiontowersubjectedtowindsandloads
AT benliangli fragilityanalysisofpowertransmissiontowersubjectedtowindsandloads
AT weiguangtian fragilityanalysisofpowertransmissiontowersubjectedtowindsandloads
AT yaxiaozhang fragilityanalysisofpowertransmissiontowersubjectedtowindsandloads
AT pengzhang fragilityanalysisofpowertransmissiontowersubjectedtowindsandloads