International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering

Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2014)

Free Vibration and Seismic Responses of Power

Transmission Tower Using ANSYS and SAP2000
Huang, Li-Jeng1, Lin, Yi-Jun2
1
Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Applied Science, 80701, Taiwan,
R.O.C.
2
Master Student, Institute of Civil Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Applied Science, 80701, Taiwan, R.O.C.
AbstractPower transmission tower is a structure with
light weight, high flexibility and low natural frequencies and
is sensitive to horizontal loadings, especially the wind and
seismic loads. These two kinds of horizontal loads might lead
to long-term fatigue or sudden failure and finally cause
abnormal condition of power supply. This paper presents
dynamic analysis of self-supporting power transmission tower
using ANSYS. Based on the finite element method (FEM), we
employ Beam-4 element to build the numerical model of the
tower. Then typical numerical example is considered and the
first leading six fundamental frequencies and periods of the
tower crane obtained by ANSYS are obtained and checked by
the use of SAP2000. The associated mode shapes obtained
from these two softwares are also presented and compared.
Furthermore, the time histories of transmission tower frame
subjected to 1940 El Centro and 1995 Kobe earthquake are
conducted, respectively. Maximal displacements, velocities
and accelerations are reported.
KeywordsANSYS, SAP2000, Power Transmission Tower,
Free Vibration, Seismic Responses
I. INTRODUCTION
Electric power transmission towers are important
apparatus in modern cities and towns related to energy
supply, industrial manufacture and economic development.
There are many design types of electric power transmission
tower conveying 110 to 750 kV, e.g. self-gravity supported
and cable-stayed; among the self-gravity supported types
there are a lot of types of shapes. A typical electric power
transmission tower employed by Taiwan Electric Company
are designed with the following data: 345 KV, Type-B
tower with height 36.2 m and base width 11.8m, built with
structural members: JIS GB 101 SS55 H, JIS G3101 SS41
H, gusset plate of JIS G3101 5S41, and bolts of ASTM
A394O 11/16 O 13/16 .
The features of electric power transmission towers are
light weight, flexible, low natural frequencies and damping
ratios and therefore sensitive to horizontal loads, e.g. wind
and earthquake excitations.
Understanding the dynamic characteristics of electric
power transmission towers is very important task for the
structural engineers when design a power supply system.
Basically power transmission towers are designed in a form
of space truss structures or space frame structures if
members are connected with gusset plates. The total
structure is a highly statically in-determinated construction
which is stable under self-weight and in general, using L-
shape structural steel members and connected by the use of
high tension bolts can leads to a strong horizontal drift
resisting structure when subjected to wind or earthquake
loads. However, a wind loads with Beaufort Number
greater than 8 (wind speed ranges 17.2~20.7 m/sec) or
seismic excitation with magnitude over 6 might induce
instantaneous collapse or long-term fatigue failure.
ASCE Committee (1982, 1991) had reported manual for
loadings for electrical transmission structures [1, 2]. Freitas
and Ribeiro (1992) conducted elasto-plastic analysis of
space truss [3] while Yan et al. (1996) considered
geometric nonlinearity [4]. Albermani (2003) studied
structural behavior of transmission towers [5]. Li et al.
(2004) investigated effect of lines on tower system [6]
while Lei and Chien (2005) conducted seismic analysis of
transmission towers considering both geometric and
material nonlinearities [7], Shi et al. (2006) conducted
shaking table tests of Coupled System of Transmission
Lines and Tower [8].
On the application of numerical analysis to transmission
tower systems, Chao and Kin (2004) investigated the
effects of three different structural models including space
truss, space frame and beam-rod structure, on the dynamic
behavior of tower frame structures [9]; Zhu et al. (2006)
employed SAP2000 and FEM to study the dynamic
responses of power transmission tower under different
seismic ground accelerations considering the randomness
of earthquakes [10]; Luo et al. (2010) employed ANSYS to
study the dynamic properties of drum-shape power
transmission tower using 3D FEM model and obtain
natural frequencies, natural modes as well as acceleration
responses due to seismic excitation [11].

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 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2014)
In the study of power transmission towers with large
cross-over spans, Li et al. (1990) proposed a simplified
calculation of aseismic design of tower-cable coupling
system [12]; Li and Wang (1997) studied the dynamic
characteristics [13]; Chang et al. (2008) reported the
stability and dynamic characteristics of power transmission
towers with large span [14]; while Deng et al. (2011)
conducted the seismic response of tower-cable system of
power transmission towers [15]; Ji et al. (2012) Research
on Dynamic Characteristics of the Large Span
Transmission Tower-line System [16].
However, practical engineers and designers need more
information on the dynamic characteristics of the power
transmission tower system including static and dynamic
behaviours. This paper presents numerical modeling and
structural dynamic analysis of a typical tower crane
employed in construction engineering. ANSYS and
SAP2000 software was employed, respectively, and finite
element method is adopted. A typical numerical example
of 345KV self-supporting transmission tower was
considered, totally 1179 three-dimensional beam elements
(BEAM-4 element) along with 495 nodes are employed for
modelling the transmission tower structure. Modal analysis
was conducted, natural frequencies and vibration modes
were studied in detail. In addition, the time histories of
transmission tower frame subjected to 1940 El Centro and
1995 Kobe earthquake are conducted, respectively.
Maximal displacements, velocities and accelerations are
reported and discussed.
II. DYNAMICS MODEL OF A TOWER CRANE FRAME
A. Problem Description
A typical 345 KV self-supporting transmission tower
structure is shown in Fig. 1 along with Cartesian coordinate
system (x is positive in the right hand direction, y is
positive upwards, and z is positive pointed out of plane).
The vertical tower frame is with 50 m height and
rectangular base with width 10.2 m. For convenience of
analysis we isolated the tower structure from the connected
power conveying cables.
B. Basic Assumptions
For the structural analysis of the transmission tower
frame we employed the following hypotheses:
1. all the members are considered to be three-
dimensional thin beams and only flexural and
stretching behaviors are included, Euler-Bernoulli
assumptions are employed;
2. shear deformation and rotary inertia of members are
neglected;
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3. damping of system is neglected;
4. all the members are perfectly connected;
5. effect of power conveying cables if isolated;
6. stress-strain relationship of structural members is
linearly elastic;
7. tower frame is rigidly connected on the ground.
C. Finite Element Models
In this research we employ ANSYS to build up the finite
element model of the transmission tower structure using
BEAM-4 element and the results are compared with those
obtained from SAP2000.
The displacements in a typical BEAM4 element can be
expressed in element local coordinates:
{u( x, t )}e [ N w ( x)]{q(t )}e (1)
w w
Where {q(t )}e {w1(t ), 1 (t ), w2 (t ), 2 (t )}T is the
x x
degrees of freedom of each element; and the shape function
can be referred to [17].
We can deduce the element inertia matrix, element
stiffness matrix and element loading vector, respectively, as
[M ](e) Le [ N w ]T [ N w ] dx (2a)
0
[ K ](e) EI Le [ B]T [ B]dx (2b)
0
{ f }(e) ] Le q [ N w ]T dx (2c)
0
Where [ B] (d 2 / dx 2 )[ N w ( x)] .
D. Dynamic Equations of Transmission Tower System
After assemblage of the element mass and stiffness
matrices and loading vectors, we obtain the global
systematic matrices and vectors and then enforce the
prescribed boundary conditions (e.g. the fixed ends at the
bottom of the vertical supporting frames) we can express
the equations of motion of the finite element model of the
transmission tower as
[M ]{x(t )} [ K ]{x(t )} { f (t )} (3)
Where [M ] and [K ] denotes the global inertia and
stiffness matrix, respectively; {x(t )} and {x(t )} denotes the
acceleration vector and displacement vector, respectively,
and { f (t )} denotes the external loading vector.
 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2014)
When free vibration is considered, { f (t )} {0} , and
under the assumption of sinusoidal motion, we can obtain
the eigen-value system:
( 2 [M ] [ K ]){ X } {0} (4)
And the natural frequencies n and vibration modes
{ X}n , n 1,2, N can be obtained. If ANSYS is
employed, we can choose sub-space iteration scheme to
perform modal analysis to complete the solution.
When seismic responses of transmission tower frame are
concerned, the equations of motion can be expressed in
matrix form as
[M ]{x(t )} [ K ]{x(t )} [M ]{a g (t )} (5)
In which a g (t ) denotes the ground acceleration.
III. NUMERICAL EXAMPLE AND RESULTS
A. Case Description
We consider a typical transmission tower frame with
totally height 50 m and base width 10.2 m, made of the
Q345 L-shape structural steel members with the sizes
0.127m 0.127m 0.0127m and properties:
As 0.0031 m 2 , I x 4.703 10 6 m 4 ,
I y 4.703 10 6 m 4 , E s 206 GPa ,
s 7850kg / m 3 .
Totally 1184 BEAM4 elements with 495 degrees of
freedom (each member has 6 degrees of freedom) are
employed in the ANSYS modelling of transmission tower
frame. Overall space frame is fixed onto rigid ground.
B. Free Vibration Analysis
The natural frequencies and corresponding vibration
modes of the finite element model of typical tower crane
can be obtained using ANSYS and verified by the use of
SAP2000. The first leading 6 natural frequencies (f = /2)
and natural periods (T=1/f) are summarized in Table 1. The
leading 6 natural frequencies range from 1 Hz to 7 Hz.
The corresponding first leading 6 various vibration
modes obtained from ANSYS and compared with those
obtained from SAP2000 are shown in Fig. 2 to Fig. 7.
There appear a lot of interesting different vibration mode
shapes considering of pitching, rotation and yawing of
overall space frame as well as some combined modes.
Defining the rotation with respect to X-axis, Y-axis and
Z-axis to be pitching, rotation and yawing, respectively, we
can summarize the leading 6 natural modes of a typical
transmission tower frame to be as follows:
(1) 1st-yawing of total tower;
(2) 1st-pitching of total tower;
(3) 1st-rotating of total tower;
(4) 2nd-pitching of total tower;
(5) 2nd-rotating of total tower;
(6) Symmetrical leg-stretching;
C. Seismic Response Analyses
The maximal dynamic responses (displacement, velocity
and acceleration) at the tip point (Nodal number No. 240)
of transmission tower frame induced by the 1940 El Centro
and 1995 Kobe ground accelerations [18] conducted by
ANSYS are list in Table II. The time histories of dynamic
responses are also shown in the Fig. 8 and Fig. 9,
respectively. The results are reasonable.
IV. CONCLUSION
The structural analysis software ANSYS has been
successfully applied to analyze the free vibration of a
typical power transmission tower frame structure. Three-
dimensional BEAM-4 elements are employed in ANSYS.
Numerical results show that the leading 6 natural
frequencies of this typical transmission tower system range
from 1 Hz to 7 Hz. Various vibration modal shapes can be
observed and compared with those obtained by SAP2000.
Time histories of transmission tower frame subjected to
1940 El Centro and 1995 Kobe earthquake are conducted,
respectively. Maximal displacements, velocities and
accelerations are also reported.
REFERENCES
[1] ASCE Committee on Electrical Transmission Structures, 1982.
Loadings for Electrical Transmission Structures, ASCE, J. Struct.
Div., 108(5), 1088-1105.
[2] ASCE, 1991. Guidelines for Electrical Transmission Line Structural
Loading, ASCE, Manuals and Reports on Engng Practice, No. 74.
[3] J. A. T. De Freitas, and A.C.B.S. Ribeiro, 1992. Large Displacement
Elasto-plastic Analysis of Space Trusses, Int. J. Computers and
Structures, 5, 1007-1016.
[4] H. Yan, Y. J. Liu, and D. S. Zhao, 1996. Geometric Nonlinear
Analysis of Transmission Tower with Continous Legs, J. Advances
in Steel Struct., 5, 339-344.
[5] F. G. Albermani, A, Kitipornchai and S.Numerical, 2003. Simulation
of Structural Behavior of Transmission Towers, J. Thin-Walled
Struct. 41, 167-177.
[6] H. N. Li, W. L. Shi and L. G. Jia, 2004. The Effect of Lines on
Transmission Tower System and Simplified Calculation Method, J.
Vib and Shock, 23(2), 1-7.
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 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2014)
[7] Y. H. Lei and Y. L. Chien, 2005. Seismic Analysis of Transmission [13] H. N. Li and Q. X. Wang, 1997. Dynamic Character of Large-Span
Towers Considering Both Geometric and Material Nonlinearities, Transmission Tower System, J. China Civil Engng, 30(5), 28-36.
Tamkang J. of Sci. and Engng., 8(1), 29-42. [14] H. Chang, L. Li, and P. Yin, 2008. Study on Large Span
[8] W. L. Shi, H. N. Li, and L. G. Jia, 2006. Shaking Table Test of Transmission Tower Elastic Dynamic Stability under Earthquake,
Coupled System of Transmission Lines and Tower, J. Engng Mech., Elect. Power Const., 29(11), 6-11.
23(5), 89-93. [15] H. Z. Deng, R. J. Si, and L. J. Deng, 2011. Seismic Responses of
[9] D. S. Chao and S. A. Kin, 2004. Effection of Finite Element Models Large Crossing Transmission Tower-line System, J. Vib.. Shock,
for Dynamic Characteristics Analysis of Transmission Tower 30(7), 173-177.
Structure, J. Spec. Struct., 21(3). [16] D. M. Ji, D. L. Zhao, X. P. Yao, and G. Q. Bao, 2012. Research on
[10] B. L. Zhu, W. T. Hu, and C. X. Li, 2006. Estimating seismic Dynamic Characteristics of the Large Span Transmission Tower-line
responses of transmission towers by finite element method, J. Earth. System, J. Shanghai Univ. Elect. Power, 28(6), 501-504.
Engng. and Engng. Vib, 26(5). [17] E. Hinton and D. R. J. Owen, 1979. An Introduction to Finite
[11] L. Luo, B. Y. Liu, and Z. H. Niu, 2010. Research on the Dynamic Element Computations, Pineridge Press, U.K.
Properties of Drum-Type Transmission Tower, J. Indus. Archi., S1. [18] G.. C. Hart and K. Wong, 2000. Structural Dynamics for Structural
[12] H. N. Li, M. Lu and Q. X. Wang, 1990. Simplified Aseismic Engineers, John-Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Calculation for Large-Span Self-Supporting Transmission Tower
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TABLE I
NATURAL FREQUENCIES AND PERIODS FOR A TYPICAL TRANSMISSION TOWER FRAME
Frequencies (Hz) Frequencies(Hz) Periods (sec) Periods (sec) Discrepancies (%)
ANSYS SAP2000 ANSYS SAP2000 ( ( SAP-ANSYS)/ANSYS *100%
Mode 1 1.0344 1.0325 0.9667 0.9685 -0.1837
Mode 2 1.0651 1.0655 0.9389 0.9385 0.0376
Mode 3 3.7009 3.6757 0.2702 0.2721 -0.6809
Mode 4 4.1019 4.0894 0.2438 0.2445 -0.3047
Mode 5 5.0381 4.5310 0.1985 0.2207 -10.0653
Mode 6 6.8830 4.8578 0.1453 0.2059 -29.4232

TABLE II
MAXIMAL DYNAMIC RESPONSES OF TRANSMISSION TOWER DUE TO EL CENTRO AND KOBE GROUND ACCELERATION
Ground Acceleration u max m u max m s
umax m s 2

1940 El Centro Earthquake 0.589 4.512 48.129
1995 Kobe Earthquake 0.994 6.459 49.397

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 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2014)

10.4 m

4.45 m
6.38 m
8m

6.88 m
8m

7.45 m
26 m

y
a g (t )
8m

x
z
10.2 m

Fig. 1 Schematic of a typical power transmission tower frame using ANSYS and SAP2000

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