A Hybrid Experimental and Computational Framework for Evaluating Wind Load Distribution and Wind-Induced Response of Multi-Span UHV Substation Gantries

Feng Li, Yiting Wang, Lianghao Zou (), Xiaohan Jiang, Xiaowang Pan, Hui Jin () and Lei Fan
Additional contact information
Feng Li: School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
Yiting Wang: School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
Lianghao Zou: School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
Xiaohan Jiang: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada
Xiaowang Pan: School of Civil Engineering, Changsha University, Changsha 410022, China
Hui Jin: School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
Lei Fan: School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-22

Abstract: The structural safety of multi-span ultra-high-voltage (UHV) substation gantries is a cornerstone for the reliability and resilience of sustainable energy grids. The wind-resistant design of the structures is complicated by their complex modal behaviors and highly non-uniform wind load distributions. This study proposes a novel hybrid framework that integrates segmented high frequency force balance (HFFB) testing with a multi-modal stochastic vibration analysis, enabling the precise assessment of wind load distribution and dynamic response. Five representative segment models are tested to quantify both mean and dynamic wind loads, a strategy rigorously validated against whole-model HFFB tests. Key findings reveal significant aerodynamic disparities among structural segments. The long-span beam, Segment 5, exhibits markedly higher and direction-dependent responses. Its mean base shear coefficient reaches 4.34 at β = 75°, which is more than twice the values of 1.74 to 2.27 for typical tower segments. Furthermore, its RMS wind force coefficient peaks at 0.65 at β = 60°, a value 2.5 to 4 times higher than those of the tower segments, all of which remained below 0.26. Furthermore, a computational model incorporating structural modes, spatial coherence, and cross-modal contributions is developed to predict wind-induced responses, validated through aeroelastic model tests. The proposed framework accurately resolves spatial wind load distribution and dynamic wind-induced response, providing a reliable and efficient tool for the wind-resistant design of multi-span UHV lattice gantries.

Keywords: wind load distribution; wind-induced response; UHV substation gantry; HFFB; multi-modal analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/21/9767/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/21/9767/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:21:p:9767-:d:1785848

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().