Abstract

VAN ZYL, W S  and  VAN ZIJL, G P A G. Dynamic behaviour of normally reinforced concrete wind turbine support structures. J. S. Afr. Inst. Civ. Eng. [online]. 2015, vol.57, n.4, pp.38-44. ISSN 2309-8775.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2309-8775/2015/v57n4a5.

Transportation logistics of large steel towers have led to concrete towers becoming a viable option. There are currently no design codes dealing exclusively with the design of concrete wind turbine towers. Wind turbine towers have strict constraints on the fundamental frequency of the tower to avoid resonance. This paper investigates the dynamic behaviour of wind turbine towers using nonlinear finite element modelling. Focus is placed on the effect of crack formation and soil stiffness on the fundamental frequency of the tower. An analytical model is then proposed that can be used in the primary design stage to determine the geometry of the tower that satisfies the fundamental frequency requirements.

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