Dynamic Response and Reliability Assessment of Power Transmission Towers Under Wind-Blown Sand Loads

Jun Lu, Jin Li, Xiaoqian Ma, Weiguang Tian, Linfeng Zhang and Peng Zhang ()
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Jun Lu: State Grid Economic and Technical Research Institute Co., Ltd., Beijing 102209, China
Jin Li: State Grid Economic and Technical Research Institute Co., Ltd., Beijing 102209, China
Xiaoqian Ma: State Grid Economic and Technical Research Institute Co., Ltd., Beijing 102209, China
Weiguang Tian: State Grid Economic and Technical Research Institute Co., Ltd., Beijing 102209, China
Linfeng Zhang: State Grid Economic and Technical Research Institute Co., Ltd., Beijing 102209, China
Peng Zhang: College of Transportation Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-26

Abstract: The global transition toward clean energy has driven the extensive deployment of overhead tower-lines in desserts, where such structures face unique challenges from wind–sand interactions. The current design standards often overlook these combined loads due to oversimplified collision models and inadequate computational frameworks. These gaps are bridged in the present study through the development of a refined impact force model grounded in Hertz contact theory, which captures transient collision mechanics and energy dissipation during sand–structure interactions. Validated against field data from northwest China, the model enables a comprehensive parametric analysis of wind speed (5–60 m/s), sand density (1000–3500 kg/m 3 ), elastic modulus (5–100 GPa), and Poisson’s ratio (0.1–0.4). Our results show that peak impact forces increase by 66.7% (with sand density) and 148% (with elastic modulus), with higher wind speeds amplifying forces nonlinearly, reaching 8 N at 30 m/s. An increased elastic modulus shifts energy dissipation toward elastic rebound, reducing the penetration depth by 28%. The dynamic analysis of a 123.6 m transmission tower under wind–sand coupling loads demonstrated significant structural response amplifications; displacements and axial forces increased by 28% and 41%, respectively, compared to pure wind conditions. These findings reveal the importance of integrating coupling load effects into design codes, particularly for towers in sandstorm-prone regions. The proposed framework provides a robust basis for enhancing structural resilience, offering practical insights for revising safety standards and optimizing maintenance strategies in arid environments.

Keywords: power transmission tower; sandstorm; structural response; reliability analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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