Seismic performance evaluation of a tall tower structure with integrated heat-absorbing and air-cooling capabilities: A shaking table test study
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Solar Power Tower (SPT) system plays a pivotal role among various solar power generation methodologies. However, the heat-absorbing towers, which is a critical component within the SPT system, have garnered insufficient attention from engineering researchers. Traditional SPT systems use heat-absorbing towers primarily for supporting the heat absorber, requiring additional structures for other functions, like indirect cooling. Consequently, the budget limit associated with the SPT systems have constrained their widespread adoption. In order to address the cost-related limitations of SPT systems, a pioneering design for a heat-absorbing and air-cooling tower was proposed through finite element analysis comparison. In the proposed structural design, the horizontal components are almost omitted due to ventilation requirements. The vertical components employ shear walls oriented towards a common center, facilitating a spatial configuration. This approach not only ensures vertical support but also guarantees uniform structural stiffness in all directions. This innovative design successfully combines the functions of indirect air-cooling and vertical resistance. In this paper, the seismic performance of the proposed structure was investigated through shaking table test. A constructed 1:25 scaled model for the proposed structure was employed for the shake table test excited by two natural and one artificial earthquake ground motion records. Results demonstrate that the structural deformation exhibited by the proposed design satisfies the requirements of the Chinese standards and functional demands under earthquakes with an intensity of 8°. Notably, the observed damage primarily occurred at structural joints, manifesting predominantly as cracks due to bending in individual components. After major earthquakes, the structure sustained severe damage under intensity of 8°, but remained structurally integrity without experiencing a catastrophic collapse. Furthermore, it is imperative to emphasize that, by combing the analysis of acceleration and displacement responses along with test observations, the proposed structure display no indication of whipping or torsion effect, even in the presence of substantial mass situated atop the structure. This finding underscores the structural integrity and seismic resilience of the heat-absorbing and air-cooling tower design.
Source: Thin-Walled Structures
Language: English
Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,310
OpenAlex ID: W4405585519