• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.387-398
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• 2019

On the basis that ground motions may arrive at a structure from any horizontal direction and that different directions of seismic incidence would result in different structural dynamic responses, this paper focuses on orienting the crucial seismic incidence of transmission tower-line systems based on the wavelet energy method. A typical transmission tower-line system is chosen as the case study, and two finite element (FE) models are established in ABAQUS, with and without consideration of the interaction between the transmission towers and the transmission lines. The mode combination frequency is defined by considering the influence of the higher-order modes of the structure. Subsequently, wavelet transformation is performed to obtain the total effective energy input and the effective energy input rate corresponding to the mode combination frequency to further judge the critical angle of seismic incidence by comparing these two performance indexes under different seismic incidence angles. To validate this approach, finite element history analysis (FEHA) is imposed on both FE models to generate comparative data, and good agreement is found. The results demonstrate that the wavelet energy method can forecast the critical angle of seismic incidence of a transmission tower-line system with adequate accuracy, avoiding time-consuming and cumbersome computer analysis. The proposed approach can be used in future seismic design of transmission tower-line systems.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.76 no.2
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• pp.251-267
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• 2020

Transmission tower-line systems have come to represent one of the most important infrastructures in today's society. Recent strong earthquakes revealed that transmission tower-line systems are vulnerable to earthquake excitations, and that ground motions may arrive at such structures from any direction during an earthquake event. Considering these premises, this paper presents experimental and numerical studies on the dynamic responses of a 1000 kV ultrahigh-voltage (UHV) transmission tower-line system under different seismic incidence angles. Specifically, a 1:25 reduced-scale experimental prototype model is designed and manufactured, and a series of shaking table tests are carried out. The influence of the seismic incidence angle on the dynamic structural response is discussed based on the experimental data. Additionally, the incidence angles corresponding to the maximum peak displacement of the top of the tower relative to the ground (referred to herein as the critical seismic incidence angles) are summarized. The experimental results demonstrate that seismic incidence angle has a significant influence on the dynamic responses of transmission tower-line systems. Subsequently, an approximation method is employed to orient the critical seismic incidence angle, and a corresponding finite element (FE) analysis is carried out. The angles obtained from the approximation method are compared with those acquired from the numerical simulation and shaking table tests, and good agreement is observed. The results demonstrate that the approximation method can properly predict the critical seismic incidence angles of transmission tower-line systems. This research enriches the available experimental data and provides a simple and convenient method to assess the seismic performance of UHV transmission systems.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.68 no.5
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• pp.575-589
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• 2018

It is well known that the incidence angle of seismic excitation has an influence on the structural response of buildings, and this effect can be more significant in the case of near-fault signals. However, current seismic codes do not include detailed requirements regarding the direction of application of the seismic action and they have only recently introduced specific provisions about near-fault earthquakes. Thus, engineers have the task of evaluating all the relevant directions or the most critical conditions case by case, in order to avoid underestimating structural demand. To facilitate the identification of the most critical incidence angle, this paper presents a procedure which makes use of a two-degree of freedom model for representing a building. The proposed procedure makes it possible to avoid the extensive computational effort of multiple dynamic analyses with varying angles of incidence of ground motion excitation, which is required if a spatial multi-degree of freedom model is used for representing a building. The procedure is validated through the analysis of two case studies consisting of an eight- and a six-storey reinforced concrete frame building, selected as representative of existing structures located in Italy. A set of 124 near-fault ground motion records oriented along 8 incidence angles, varying from 0 to 180 degrees, with increments of 22.5 degrees, is used to excite the structures. Comparisons between the results obtained with detailed models of the two structures and the proposed procedure are used to show the accuracy of the latter in the prediction of the most critical angle of seismic incidence.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.255-267
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• 2020

A systematic set of low-speed wind tunnel experiments was performed at Re = 6.5×10⁴ and 1.1×10⁵ to study the mean wind loading experienced by surface-mounted finite-height square prisms for different aspect ratios, incidence angles, and boundary layer thicknesses. The aspect ratio of the prism was varied from AR = 1 to 11 in small increments and the incidence angle was changed from α = 0° to 45° in increments of 1°. Two different boundary layer thicknesses were used: a thin boundary layer with δ/D = 0.8 and a thick boundary layer with δ/D = 2.0-2.2. The mean drag and lift coefficients were strong functions of AR, α, and δ/D, while the Strouhal number was mostly influenced by α. The critical incidence angle, at which the prism experiences minimum drag, maximum lift, and highest vortex shedding frequency, increased with AR, converged to a value of α_c = 18° ± 2° once AR was sufficiently high, and was relatively insensitive to changes in δ/D. A local maximum value of mean drag coefficient was identified for higher-AR prisms at low α. The overall behaviour of the force coefficients and Strouhal number with AR suggests the possibility of three flow regimes.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.317-329
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• 2018

Wake characteristics of the flow over a finite square prism at different incidence angles were experimentally investigated using an open-loop wind tunnel. A finite square prism with a width D = 15 mm and a height H = 7D was vertically mounted on a horizontal flat plate. The Reynolds number was varied from $6.5{\times}10^3$ to $28.5{\times}10^3$ and the incidence angle ${\alpha}$ was changed from $0^{\circ}$ to $45^{\circ}$. The ratio of boundary layer thickness to the prism height was about ${\delta}/H=7%$. The time-averaged velocity, turbulence intensity and the vortex shedding frequency were obtained through a single-component hotwire probe. Power spectrum of the streamwise velocity fluctuations revealed that the tip and base vortices shed at the same frequency as that ofspanwise vortices. Furthermore, the results showed that the critical incidence angle corresponding to the maximum Strouhal number and minimum wake width occurs at ${\alpha}_{cr}=15^{\circ}$ which is equal to that reported for an infinite prism. There is a reduction in the size of the wake region along the height of the prism when moving away from the ground plane towards the free end.

• Composites Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2007

As a fundamental approach to studying elastic wave behaviors in fiber-reinforced composites, this paper introduces the analytical method to predict the modes, directions, and amplitudes of all reflected waves that are generated by free-surface reflection in fiber-reinforced composites. The paper also explores a new phenomenon where a reflected wave that is predicted to exist in accordance with the slowness surface may disappear. This may occur when the angle of incidence of a quasi-shear wave exceeds a newly defined critical angle, named the third critical angle. It is hoped that the analytical approach introduced in this paper will provide an easy-to-follow guideline for researchers in the relevant area such as ultrasonic nondestructive testing.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2000.04b
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• pp.465-471
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• 2000

The flow characteristics around an elliptic cylinder with axis ratio of AR=2 located near a flat plate were investigated experimentally to study the interaction between the cylinder wake and the turbulent boundary layer. The pressure distributions on the cylinder surface and on the flat plate were measured with varying the angle of attack of the cylinder. In addition, the velocity profiles of wake behind the cylinder were measured using a hot-wire anemometry As the angle of attack increases, the location of peak pressure on the windward and leeward surfaces of the cylinder moves toward the rear and front of the cylinder, respectively. At positive angles of attack, the position of the minimum pressure on the flat plate surface is moved downstream, but it is moved upstream at negative angles of attack. With increasing the angle of attack, the vortex shedding frequency is gradually decreased and the critical angel of attack exists in terms of the gap ratio. By installing the elliptic cylinder at negative angle of attack, the turbulent boundary layer over the flat plate is disturbed more than that at positive incidence. This may be attributed to the shift of separation point on the lower surface of the cylinder according to the direction of the angle of attack.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.976-983
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• 2000

The flow characteristics around an elliptic cylinder with axis ratio of AR=2 located near a flat plate were investigated experimentally to study the interaction between the cylinder wake and the turbulent boundary layer. The pressure distributions on the cylinder surface and on the flat plate were measured with varying the angle of attack of the cylinder. In addition, the velocity profiles of wake behind the cylinder were measured using a hot-wire anemometry As the angle of attack increases, the location of peak pressure on the windward and leeward surfaces of the cylinder moves toward the rear and front of the cylinder, respectively. At positive angles of attack, the position of the minimum pressure on the flat plate surface is moved downstream, but it is moved upstream at negative angles of attack. With increasing the angle of attack, the vortex shedding frequency is gradually decreased and the critical angle of attack exists in terms of the gap ratio. By installing the elliptic cylinder at negative angle of attack, the turbulent boundary layer over the flat plate is disturbed more than that at positive incidence. This may be attributed to the shift of separation point on the lower surface of the cylinder due to the presence of a ground plate nearby.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.127-142
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• 2021

Wind load acting on a standalone structure is different from that acting on a similar structure which is surrounded by other structures in close proximity. The presence of other structures in the surrounding can change the wind flow regime around the principal structure and thus causing variation in wind loads compared to a standalone case. This variation on wind loads termed as interference effect depends on several factors like terrain category, geometry of the structure, orientation, wind incident angle, interfering distances etc., In the present study, a three building configuration is considered and the mean pressure coefficients on each face of principle building are determined in presence of two interfering buildings. Generally, wind loads on interfering buildings are determined from wind tunnel experiments. Computational fluid dynamic studies are being increasingly used to determine the wind loads recently. Whereas, wind tunnel tests are very expensive, the CFD simulation requires high computational cost and time. In this scenario, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) technique and Support Vector Regression (SVR) can be explored as alternative tools to study wind loads on structures. The present study uses these data-driven approaches to predict mean pressure coefficients on each face of principle building. Three typical arrangements of three building configuration viz. L shape, V shape and mirror of L shape arrangement are considered with varying interfering distances and wind incidence angles. Mean pressure coefficients (Cp mean) are predicted for 45 degrees wind incidence angle through ANN and SVR. Further, the critical faces of principal building, critical interfering distances and building arrangement which are more prone to wind loads are identified through this study. Among three types of building arrangements considered, a maximum of 3.9 times reduction in Cp mean values are noticed under Case B (V shape) building arrangement with 2.5B interfering distance. Effect of interfering distance and building arrangement on suction pressure on building faces has also been studied. Accordingly, Case C (mirror of L shape) building arrangement at a wind angle of 45º shows less suction pressure. Through this study, it was also observed that the increase of interfering distance may increase the suction pressure for all the cases of building configurations considered.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.211-238
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• 2016

The Maximum seismic responses of steel buildings with perimeter moment resisting frames (MRF), modeled as complex MDOF systems, are estimated for several incidence angles of the horizontal components and the critical one is identified. The accuracy of the existing rules to combine the effects of the individual components is also studied. Two and three components are considered. The critical response does not occur for principal components and the corresponding incidence angle varies from one earthquake to another. The critical response can be estimated as 1.40 and 1.10 times that of the principal components, for axial load and interstory shears, respectively. The rules underestimate the axial load but reasonably overestimate the shears. The rules are not always inaccurate in the estimation of the combined response for correlated components. On the other hand, totally uncorrelated (principal) components are not always related to an accurate estimation. The correlation of the individual effects (${\rho}$) may be significant, even for principal components. The rules are not always associated to an inaccurate estimation for large values of ${\rho}$, and small values of ${\rho}$ are not always related to an accurate estimation. Only for perfectly uncorrelated harmonic excitations and elastic analysis of SDOF systems, the individual effects of the components are uncorrelated and the rules accurately estimate the combined response. The degree of correlation of the components, the type of structural system, the response parameter under consideration, the location of the structural member and the level of structural deformation must be considered while estimating the level of underestimation or overestimation.