WIND LOAD ANALYSIS OF COOLING TOWERS

Abstract

A cooling tower, or groups thereof, is a familiar sight on any power plant. These towers are used for the purpose of reducing the temperature of a liquid participating in a technological process. The liquid that is being cooled is usually water. Water after having passed through the tower is returned to the process again. Wind load is perhaps the most important design force to be considered which designing a cooling tower except where earthquake effects may also need consideration. The main factor that attributed to the tensile failure of Ferry Bridge Cooling Tower shells was the serious underestimate of wind loading in design. Hence wind load is by far the most important design force and becomes critical in such tall and exposed structures. It varies both along the periphery and across the height. Hence an attempt has been made here to discuss the wind pressure and its circumferential and vertical distribution on the cooling towers. Th object of the study presented here in the thesis has been to : (a) Discuss the wind pressure and its circumferential and vertical distribution on the cooling towers. (L) To develop the bending analysis for cooling towers by the Finite Element Method. (c) To develop , general computer programs for the analysis of cooling towers subjected to axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric loading. (d) To plot the distribution of various deflections and stress resultants to study their variation. To achieve the above objectives, bending analysis of hyperboloid of revolution has been developed by using conical frusta as a basic finite element. Two general computer programmes have been developed and illustrative examples have been solved. The results are then compared with the standard results available and show good corraboration.