Capacity assessment of existing corroded overhead power line structures subjected to synoptic winds

Huawei Niu,Xuan Li,Wei Zhang 한국풍공학회 2018 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.27 No.5

The physical infrastructure of the power systems, including the high-voltage transmission towers and lines as well as the poles and wires for power distribution at a lower voltage level, is critical for the resilience of the community since the failures or nonfunctioning of these structures could introduce large area power outages under the extreme weather events. In the current engineering practices, single circuit lattice steel towers linked by transmission lines are widely used to form power transmission systems. After years of service and continues interactions with natural and built environment, progressive damages accumulate at various structural details and could gradually change the structural performance. This study is to evaluate the typical existing transmission tower-line system subjected to synoptic winds (atmospheric boundary layer winds). Effects from the possible corrosion penetration on the structural members of the transmission towers and the aerodynamic damping force on the conductors are evaluated. However, corrosion in connections is not included. Meanwhile, corrosion on the structural members is assumed to be evenly distributed. Wind loads are calculated based on the codes used for synoptic winds and the wind tunnel experiments were carried out to obtain the drag coefficients for different panels of the transmission towers as well as for the transmission lines. Sensitivity analysis is carried out based upon the incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) to evaluate the structural capacity of the transmission tower-line system for different corrosion and loading conditions. Meanwhile, extreme value analysis is also performed to further estimate the short-term extreme response of the transmission tower-line system.

An empirical model for amplitude prediction on VIV-galloping instability of rectangular cylinders

Huawei Niu,Zhengqing Chen,Xugang Hua,Shuai Zhou 한국풍공학회 2015 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.21 No.1

Aerodynamic forces of vortex-induced vibration and galloping are going to be coupled when their onset velocities are close to each other, which will induce the cross-wind amplitudes of the structures increased continuously with ever-increasing wind velocities. The main purpose of the present work is going to propose an empirical formula to predict the response amplitude of VIV-galloping interaction. Firstly, two typical mathematical models for the coupled oscillations, i.e., Tamura & Shimada model and Parkinson & Corless model are comparatively summarized. Then, the key parameter affecting response amplitude is determined through comparative numerical simulations with Tamura & Shimada model. For rectangular cylinders with the side ratio from 0.5 to 2.5, which are actually prone to develop the VIV and galloping induced interaction responses, an empirical amplitude prediction formula is proposed after regression analysis on comprehensively collected experimental data with the predetermined key parameter.

An empirical model for amplitude prediction on VIV-galloping instability of rectangular cylinders

Niu, Huawei,Zhou, Shuai,Chen, Zhengqing,Hua, Xugang Techno-Press 2015 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.21 No.1

Aerodynamic forces of vortex-induced vibration and galloping are going to be coupled when their onset velocities are close to each other, which will induce the cross-wind amplitudes of the structures increased continuously with ever-increasing wind velocities. The main purpose of the present work is going to propose an empirical formula to predict the response amplitude of VIV-galloping interaction. Firstly, two typical mathematical models for the coupled oscillations, i.e., Tamura & Shimada model and Parkinson & Corless model are comparatively summarized. Then, the key parameter affecting response amplitude is determined through comparative numerical simulations with Tamura & Shimada model. For rectangular cylinders with the side ratio from 0.5 to 2.5, which are actually prone to develop the VIV and galloping induced interaction responses, an empirical amplitude prediction formula is proposed after regression analysis on comprehensively collected experimental data with the predetermined key parameter.

Capacity assessment of existing corroded overhead power line structures subjected to synoptic winds

Niu, Huawei,Li, Xuan,Zhang, Wei Techno-Press 2018 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.27 No.5

The physical infrastructure of the power systems, including the high-voltage transmission towers and lines as well as the poles and wires for power distribution at a lower voltage level, is critical for the resilience of the community since the failures or nonfunctioning of these structures could introduce large area power outages under the extreme weather events. In the current engineering practices, single circuit lattice steel towers linked by transmission lines are widely used to form power transmission systems. After years of service and continues interactions with natural and built environment, progressive damages accumulate at various structural details and could gradually change the structural performance. This study is to evaluate the typical existing transmission tower-line system subjected to synoptic winds (atmospheric boundary layer winds). Effects from the possible corrosion penetration on the structural members of the transmission towers and the aerodynamic damping force on the conductors are evaluated. However, corrosion in connections is not included. Meanwhile, corrosion on the structural members is assumed to be evenly distributed. Wind loads are calculated based on the codes used for synoptic winds and the wind tunnel experiments were carried out to obtain the drag coefficients for different panels of the transmission towers as well as for the transmission lines. Sensitivity analysis is carried out based upon the incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) to evaluate the structural capacity of the transmission tower-line system for different corrosion and loading conditions. Meanwhile, extreme value analysis is also performed to further estimate the short-term extreme response of the transmission tower-line system.

Mitigation of wind-induced vibrations of bridge hangers using tuned mass dampers with eddy current damping

Huawei Niu,Zhengqing Chen,Xugang Hua,Wei Zhang 국제구조공학회 2018 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.22 No.6

To mitigate vibrations, tuned mass dampers (TMD) are widely used for long span bridges or high-rise buildings. Due to some durability concerns, such as fluid degradation, oil leakage, etc., the alternative solutions, such as the non-contacted eddy current damping (ECD), are proposed for mechanical devices in small scales. In the present study, a new eddy current damping TMD (ECD-TMD) is proposed and developed for large scale civil infrastructure applications. Starting from parametric study on finite element analysis of the ECD-TMD, the new design is enhanced via using the permanent magnets to eliminate the power need and a combination of a copper plate and a steel plate to improve the energy dissipation efficiency. Additional special design includes installation of two permanent magnets at the same side above the copper plate to easily adjust the gap as well as the damping. In a case study, the proposed ECD-TMD is demonstrated in the application of a steel arch bridge to mitigate the wind-induced vibrations of the flexible hangers. After a brief introduction of the configuration and the installation process for the damper, the mitigation effects are measured for the ambient vibration and forced vibration scenarios. The results show that the damping ratios increase to 3% for the weak axis after the installation of the ECD-TMDs and the maximum vibration amplitudes can be reduced by 60%.

Wind tunnel tests on wind loads acting on steel tubular transmission towers under skewed wind

FengLi Yang,Huawei Niu 한국풍공학회 2022 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.35 No.2

Steel tubular towers are commonly used in UHV and long crossing transmission lines. By considering effects of the model scale, the solidity ratio and the ratio of the mean width to the mean height, wind tunnel tests under different wind speeds on twenty tubular steel tower body models and twenty-six tubular steel cross-arm models were completed. Drag coefficients and shielding factors of the experimental tower body models and cross-arm models in wind directional axis for typical skewed angles were obtained. The influence of the lift forces on the skewed wind load factors of tubular steel tower bodies was evaluated. The skewed wind load factors, the wind load distribution factors in transversal and longitudinal direction were calculated for the tubular tower body models and cross-arm models, respectively. Fitting expressions for the skewed wind load factors of tubular steel bodies and cross-arms were determined through nonlinear fitting analysis. Parameters for skewed wind loads determined by wind tunnel tests were compared with the regulations in applicable standards. Suggestions on the drag coefficients, the skewed wind load factors and the wind load distribution factors were proposed for tubular steel transmission towers.

Performance evaluation of inerter-based damping devices for structural vibration control of stay cables

Zhiwen Huang,Xugang Hua,Zhengqing Chen,Huawei Niu 국제구조공학회 2019 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.23 No.6

Inerter-based damping devices (IBBDs), which consist of inerter, spring and viscous damper, have been extensively investigated in vehicle suspension systems and demonstrated to be more effective than the traditional control devices with spring and viscous damper only. In the present study, the control performance on cable vibration reduction was studied for four different inerter-based damping devices, namely the parallel-connected viscous mass damper (PVMD), series-connected viscous mass damper (SVMD), tuned inerter dampers (TID) and tuned viscous mass damper (TVMD). Firstly the mechanism of the ball screw inerter is introduced. Then the state-space formulation of the cable-TID system is derived as an example for the cable-IBBDs system. Based on the complex modal analysis, single-mode cable vibration control analysis is conducted for PVMD, SVMD, TID and TVMD, and their optimal parameters and the maximum attainable damping ratios of the cable/damper system are obtained for several specified damper locations and modes in combination by the Nelder-Mead simplex algorithm. Lastly, optimal design of PVMD is developed for multi-mode vibration control of cable, and the results of damping ratio analysis are validated through the forced vibration analysis in a case study by numerical simulation. The results show that all the four inerter-based damping devices significantly outperform the viscous damper for single-mode vibration control. In the case of multi-mode vibration control, PVMD can provide more damping to the first four modes of cable than the viscous damper does, and their maximum control forces under resonant frequency of harmonic forced vibration are nearly the same. The results of this study clearly demonstrate the effectiveness and advantages of PVMD in cable vibration control.

Synthesis and Properties of Self-healing Metallopolymers with 5-Vinyltetrazole Units and Zn(II)

Mifa Chen,Wenxiang Wang,Hou Chen,Liangjiu Bai,Zhongxin Xue,Donglei Wei,Huawei Yang,Yuzhong Niu 한국고분자학회 2019 Macromolecular Research Vol.27 No.1

The development of reversible and efficient self-healing materials symbolizes an emerging and challenging task in intelligent materials science. In this paper, a facile one-pot and two-step methodology was developed for the preparation of polyacrylonitrile-r-poly(butyl acrylate) (PAN-r-PnBA) and its subsequent modification. Zinc chloride (ZnCl2) was used as a catalyst to modify cyano groups and generate tetrazole groups of PAN-r-PnBA. Simultaneously, ZnCl2 effectively coordinates with the generated tetrazole group for highly self-healing performance. It was demonstrated that the metallopolymers (MPs) exhibited excellent self-healing properties at ambient temperature. The prepared tetrazole-based MPs can be used as a wide range of self-healing materials.