Wind induced coupling effects of transmission tower-line system at microtopography

The coupled and uncoupled Dynamic Finite Element Models (DFEMs) of the transmission tower-line system consisting of two towers and three spans of conductors and ground wires were built at the windward and crosswind slope of a cosinoidal hill. The acceleration ratios of mean wind profiles of cosinoidal mountains were summarized from previous studies, then the mean wind profile over the windward, crosswind and leeward slopes were revised. The wind loads acting on the transmission tower-line system were calculated based on the revised profile. The wind-induced dynamic responses of the coupled and uncoupled DFEMs were detected, and the coupling effects on reaction force of hanging points, displacements and accelerations at the tower top, axial forces of main rods and wind-induced vibration coefficients were analysed. The results show that due to the lack of the TMD-like effect, the uncoupled system is more sensitive to wind load and has significant wind-induced vibration compared to the coupled system, making the three-dimensional force of the hanging point, displacements and accelerations at the tower top, axial forces of main rods increasing, but the wind-induced vibration coefficients change little. Generally, the coupling effects of the tower-line system are significant. Ignoring it will make the structural design of transmission towers conservative.