Full-Scale Tests and Numerical Simulations of Failure Mechanism of Power Transmission Towers

Full-scale tests are conducted to investigate the load-bearing capacity and failure mechanism of power transmission towers subjected to various loading patterns (broken lines, wind and ice). Detailed finite element models of power transmission towers are established based on these experimental prototypes. To capture the member instability, the integral stability coefficients are obtained from different specifications and introduced into a user-defined material model. Subsequently, the failure analysis of power transmission towers is carried out using an explicit algorithm, and good agreement is found in comparison with experimental results. The results show that the proposed procedure is effective in simulating the power transmission tower failure process. The full-scale test and numerical simulation studies can provide a valuable database for the design of power transmission towers subjected to various loads.