Performance of wind-excited 1000 kV substation gantry by aeroelastic model wind tunnel test

This study aims to investigate the performance of wind-excited 1000 kV substation gantry via the aero-elastic model wind tunnel test. An aero-elastic model that can simulate the first four frequencies was designed and manufactured by the method of combining semi-rigid segments by V-shape springs. Making use of the aero-elastic model wind tunnel test, the structural displacement and acceleration responses of the model were investigated for different wind speed and wind direction cases. Results show that the method of combining semi-rigid segments by V-shape springs can simulate the key parameters such as geometric shape, mass, frequency and damping ratio well. Wind direction plays an important role in the mean displacement responses, and the worst wind direction is 15° deviating from the corresponding axis. The root mean square of acceleration responses is remarkable in both the along-wind and cross-wind directions. In the direction perpendicular to the span, the wind-induced vibration of the middle tower mainly depends on the resonance component of the first mode. By contrast, the contributions of the first and higher modes are all important for the side towers' wind-induced responses. Gust response factors (GRFs) were estimated by the inertial wind loading method and the gust loading factor method, respectively. The range of the GRFs determined by the two methods is close to each other, which can provide guidance for assessing the performance of similar substation gantries subjected to wind.