Collapse Mechanism and Failure Criterion of Superlarge Cooling Tower under Tornado
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 150, Issue 3
Abstract
In this study, the tallest cooling tower (228 m) completed construction in the world in northwest China was chosen to investigate wind-induced failure mechanism of superlarge cooling towers under tornado. A multiscale finite-element model of the structure was established based on the layered shell element method, and a wind tunnel pressure test was carried out using the tornado simulator. Wind pressure distribution characteristics on inner and outer surfaces of the cooling tower under tornado were analyzed. Moreover, characteristics of the whole wind-induced collapse process of the cooling tower under tornado were studied by combining incremental dynamic analytical method, and the collapse mechanism of a superlarge cooling tower under tornado was extracted. Finally, the failure criterion of the structure under tornado based on the variation rate of the torsion angle was proposed. Results demonstrated that wind pressure showed a circumferential even distribution pattern on the surface of the superlarge cooling tower under tornado, and it generally presented negative pressures. When the cooling tower is located at the tornado vortex core, it is the most dangerous and vulnerable to collapse. Under tornado effects, the cooling tower presented bypassing suction and torsional collapse attitudes from inside to outside. The cooling tower element is designed to improve the antitornado bearing capacity by developing a membrane mechanism. The cooling tower collapsed and failed when the torsion angle failure index .
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51878351, 52078251, and 52211530086), Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (Grant No. BK20211518), and National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of China (Grant No. 52008247).
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 150 • Issue 3 • March 2024
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 1, 2023
Accepted: Oct 25, 2023
Published online: Dec 28, 2023
Published in print: Mar 1, 2024
Discussion open until: May 28, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Analysis (by type)
- Continuum mechanics
- Cooling towers
- Disaster risk management
- Disasters and hazards
- Dynamics (solid mechanics)
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering mechanics
- Failure analysis
- Forces (type)
- Forensic engineering
- Infrastructure
- Natural disasters
- Pipeline systems
- Pipes
- Pressure distribution
- Pressure pipes
- Solid mechanics
- Structural engineering
- Structures (by type)
- Tornadoes
- Torsion
- Towers (by type)
- Wind engineering
- Wind forces
- Wind pressure
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