The Vortex-shedding Induced Vibration of

Transmission Steel Tubular Tower

Jingbo Yang
Department of Engineering Mechanics
China Electric Power Research Institute
Beijing, China
Email: yjb@epri.sgcc.com.cn

Abstract—Tubular tower is widely used as high-load tower for
transmission line. Some circular-section members tend to
present vortex-shedding induced across-wind vibration under
low wind speed. This is supposed to be treated properly in
structural design to well handle conflict between structural
safety and economy. In the paper, based on theoretical analysis
on vortex-shedding induced vibration in conjunction with results
of dynamic property test on tubular members of different
connection types and wind tunnel experiment on vibration
response, theoretical method for calculating vortex-shedding
induced vibration, as well as reasonable limit value of vibration
critical wind speed, are put forward.
Keywords-transmission steel tubular tower; vortex-shedding
induced vibration; critical wind speed; rod end constrains; wind
tunnel experiment
I. INTRODUCTION
UVH tower, those with double (multiple) circuits on
the same tower and great-span tower all bear high load.
Main leg of tangent tower adopting angle steel members is
double-sort or four-sort combined structure generally. Even
if four-sort combined structure is used, angle tower can’t
meet requirement for bearing capacity sometimes thus
lattice column of angle steel is desired. However, complex
constitution of combined structure will bring difficulty for
design, machining and installation of tower and also
increase uncertain factor in structural safety.
Circular-section tubular member presents good
dynamic property, wind stress factor and shape factor both
only about 1/2 of angle steel, and homogeneous stress in
different directions due to central symmetry of section.
Uniform distribution of material brings large flexural
rigidity for section. Adopting tubular member can reduce
tower weight and improve both bearing capacity and
stability in structural safety. Tubular tower presents
technical and economical advantages compared to angle
steel tower, used as high-load tower.
However, some members of tubular tower with high
slenderness ratio, especially that nearly laid out
horizontally, tend to present vortex-shedding induced
vibration vertical to wind direction under low wind speed.
Since transmission line is located in environment of low
wind speed in long term, the persistent and repeated
vibration may cause looseness of bolt connection and
fatigue and damage of member. In the meantime, due to
vibrational coupling reaction between tower and earth wire,
anti-vibration of earth wire may also be impacted.
In the paper, mechanism of vortex-shedding induced
vibration is introduced with calculation method of
vibration critical wind speed analyzed theoretically.
Considering results of dynamic property test on tubular
members of different connection types and wind tunnel
experiment on vibration response, the study puts forwards
simplified formula for calculating vibration critical wind
speed, tower end constraints and reasonable wind speed
limit value.
II. MECHANISM OF VORTEX-SHEDDING INDUCED VIBRATION
ON TUBULAR TOWER
Horizontal ambient flow cylinder produces vortex
behind, whose kinetic characteristics are determined by
Reynolds number (Re) of cylinder in wind current. For
40≤Re<3×105, a subcritical range, Karman vortex street
will be formed behind cylinder, shown in Fig.1, where
vortexes in two lines are stagger alternatively, rotate in
opposite directions and shed periodically. Resulted
shedding wind enables cylinder to produce across-wind
movement [1]. When dominant frequency of shedding is
close to natural frequency of cylinder on certain stage,
sympathetic vibration will be induced by vortex shedding.
Due to its characteristic of frequency lock [1],
vortex-shedding induced vibration improves occurrence of
sympathetic vibration.
Figure 1. Cylinder Karman Vortex Street
Re of Ø290 circular-section tubular member under
wind speed of 15m/s is,
Re = 6.9 × 10 4 ⋅ V ⋅ d = 3 × 10 5 (1)

978-1-4244-6255-1/11/$26.00 ©2011 IEEE

In most circumstances, wind speed of tower is lower than A. Experiment on natural frequency of vibration for tubular
15m/s under working conditions; correspondingly, members with different types of nodes
diameters of diagonal member and auxiliary member are The experiment targets three major nodes connecting
higher than 290mm. In general, with respect to most tubular members, gusset, flange plate and intersection weld,
circular-section diagonal members and auxiliary members and is developed as prototype of 1: 1. Gusset connection
of tubular tower, Re in wind current is lower than 3×105, includes five patterns, I, T, [, U and ＋. Slenderness ratios
easy for occurrence of across-wind vortex-shedding of tubular members in experiment are shown in Tab.1.
induced vibration. TABLE I. Content of Experiment on Natural Frequencies of
Thus, it is observed that vortex-shedding induced Vibration of Tubular Members
vibration of tubular tower is across-wind movement caused Slenderness Specification Node
Node type
by Karman vortex street on some circular-section members ratio of steel tube pattern
under low wind speed. 134 [, U, ＋
[, U, ＋,
III. THEORETICAL CALCULATING METHOD OF VIBRATION Gusset 145 Φ60×4
┬, I
CRITICAL WIND SPEED
180 [, U, ┬, I
Formula for approximately calculating dominant Flange 50, 100, 150 /
frequency of vortex shedding [1]: Intersection Φ89×4
V 50, 100, 150 /
f s = 0.2 (2) weld
d
For tubular member with gusset connection, measured
In the equation, d is cylinder diameter, V is wind speed and
natural frequency of vibration is shown in Fig.2.
0.2 is Strouhal number of cylinder.
Calculated frequencies under different end constraints are
Vibration critical wind speed is initial wind speed when
also shown in the figure [4] [5].
sympathetic vibration is induced by vortex shedding.
Concluded from equation (2), vibration critical wind speed 70
of tubular member is expressed as: 65
t heor et i c al v al ue, s ol i d- s ol i d
t heor et i c al v al ue, hi nge- hi nge
5d
Vcr = p (3) 60
t heor et i c al
ex per i ment
v al ue, s ol i d- hi nge
v al ue, I - gus s et
2π 55
ex per i ment v al ue, U- gus s et
ex per i ment v al ue, +- gus s et
In the equation, p is natural circular frequency of 50
ex per i ment v al ue, T- gus s et
ex per i ment v al ue, [ - gus s et
vibration on members with different end constraints.
frequency (Hz)

45
Gyration radius of tube, r ≈ 2d / 4 . Based on r = I / A , 40
from equation (3), it can be concluded that [2] 35
2
5 2 E ⎛r⎞ ( n = 1,2,3… ) (4)
30
Vcr = ⋅ λ2n ⋅ ⋅⎜ ⎟
π ρ ⎝ L⎠ 25

In the equation, the constant λn is parameter of natural 20

15
frequency of vibration, determined as vibration order of 10
member and end constraint [3], E Young modulus of steel 120 130 140 150 160 170 180
tube, ρ density, considered as 2.06×1011N/m2 and slenderness ratio
(a) major axis
7.85×103kg/m3, respectively, I inertia moment of section, 70
A sectional area, L length. Thus, the equation above 65
t heor et i c al val ue, s ol i d- s ol i d

can be further simplified as: 60

t heor et i c al
t heor et i c al
val ue, hi nge- hi nge
val ue, s ol i d- hi nge
ex per i ment v al ue, I - gus s et
λ2 ( n = 1,2,3… ) (5) ex per i ment v al ue, U- gus s et
Vcr = 11530 n2 55
ex per i ment v al ue, +- gus s et
λ 50
ex per i ment v al ue, T- gus s et
ex per i ment v al ue, [ - gus s et

λ = L / r , meaning slenderness ratio.

frequency (Hz)

45

40
IV. ROD END CONSTRAINTS OF DIFFERENT CONNECTION 35
NODES 30

Characteristics of vortex-shedding induced vibration on 25

tubular member are related to end constraints. Before 20

calculation of vibration critical wind speed, it is necessary 15

to determine end constraint. For this, natural frequencies of 10

vibration are measured by experiment for tubular members 120 130 140 150 160 170 180
slenderness ratio
with different slenderness ratios and end constraints. End
(b) minor axis
constraint can be determined by comparison and analysis Figure 2. Measured frequency and calculated frequency of member with
on measured value and calculated value. gusset connection
B. End constraints
I-minor axis 9.2 7.9 9.3
By comparing measured natural frequency with
calculated value under constraints like ideal hinge and U-major axis 15.2 15.1 13.4
solid joint, it can be concluded that:
U-minor axis 10.1 8.8 9.3
• Gusset connection
With respect to end constraints for member with gusset +-major/mino
16.2 15.8 13.4
connection (except pattern +), solid joint can be set for one r axis
end, hinge for another, in direction of minor axis while T -major axis 15.0 13.9 13.4
solid joint can be set for both ends, in direction of major
axis. T -minor axis 9.9 8.5 9.3
With respect to end constraints for member with
[ -major axis 15.7 14.6 13.4
+-gusset connection, solid joint can be set for both ends.
With respect to slenderness ratio of member with [ -minor axis 11.4 10.0 9.3
gusset connection, sum of lengths of steel tube and node
plate is to be considered as calculated length of member. I-major axis 9.0 8.6 8.3
• Flange connection I-minor axis 4.4 4.4 5.8
End constraint for member with flange connection falls
in between hinge and solid joint. 175 T -major axis 9.0 8.6 8.3
• Intersection weld connection
T -minor axis 4.8 4.4 5.8
With respect to end constraints for member with
intersection weld connection, solid joint can be set for both U-major axis 9.2 8.8 8.3
ends.
U-major axis 4.6 4.5 5.8
V. WIND TUNNEL EXPERIMENT ON VIBRATION CRITICAL
[-major axis 8.9 8.7 8.3
WIND SPEED OF GUSSET CONNECTION
Based on slenderness ratio of tubular member and [-minor axis 5.3 4.8 5.8
boundary constraint, vibration critical wind speed can be B. Comparison of experiment result and calculated value
concluded with theoretical calculation method. However, First-order vibration critical wind speed is calculated as
feasibility and reasonableness of theoretical calculation measured natural frequency via the following formula:
method should be verified by study on difference between V = 5⋅ f ⋅ d
calculated value and actual vibration wind speed. (6)
A. Experiment result In the equation, f is measured natural frequency and d is
For steel tubes with gusset connection and different diameter of steel tube, 60mm.
slenderness ratios, first-order vibration critical wind speeds By comparing value measured in wind tunnel
measured in wind tunnel experiment, as well as value experiment and calculated value in Table 2, it can be
predicted as measured natural frequency and value concluded that:
calculated as theoretical simplified formula, are shown in Vibration wind speed measured in wind tunnel
Tab. 2 [5]. experiment is slightly higher than that predicted as
TABLE II. First-order Vibration Critical Wind Speeds Concluded measured natural frequency, which demonstrates that
by Different Methods (m/s) estimating vibration critical wind speed as natural
Predicted frequency via equation (6) is feasible in structural design.
Measured
with
Calculated by Since coefficient in (6) is 5, lower than non-dimensional
Slenderness End from wind
measured
theoretical wind speed measured in experiment, 5~5.5, calculated
ratio constraints tunnel simplified value is lower than measured value.
natural
experiment formula Vibration critical wind speed calculated as theoretical
frequency
simplified formula (5) is lower than measured value on the
U-major axis 20.7 18.4 15.9 whole, except high slenderness ratio 175 under minor axis.
This demonstrates that it is feasible to adopt solid joint for
U-minor axis 11.1 9.4 11.0
one end and hinge for another (in direction of minor axis)
+-major/mino or adopt solid hinge for both ends, as constraint.
127 21.5 19.9 15.9
r axis In order to better control first-order vortex-shedding
[ -major axis 18.2 16.8 15.9 induced vibration under minor axis for member with high
slenderness ratio (over 160), the constraint, solid joint for
[ -minor axis 12.8 11.1 11.0 one end and hinge for another, can be properly softened,
namely, it can be replaced by hinge for both ends.
138 I-major axis 15.7 14.1 13.4
 VI. LIMIT VALUE OF VIBRATION CRITICAL WIND SPEED
REFERENCES
Merely from angle of controlling vortex-shedding
induced vibration, limit value of vibration critical wind
speed should be selected as maximum wind speed [1] Emil Simiu, Robert. H. Scanlon, Wind Effects on Structures: An Introduction to
corresponding to member with minimum slenderness ratio. Wind Engineering [M], New York : Wiley, 1986
However, the method is bound to impact economy of some [2] Yang Jingbo, Li Zheng, Breeze Vibration of Transmission Steel Tubular Tower
members with high slenderness ratio meeting requirements and Its Effects on Structure Safety [J], Journal of Vibration, Measurement &
for bearing capacity and stability. Therefore, a proper limit Diagnosis,2007(3): 208-211(in Chinese).
value should be determined to balance safety and economy [3] Ji Wenmei, Mechanical Vibration [M], Beijing, Science Press, 1985
of member, which is due to effectively control [4] Yang Jingbo, Dai Zebing, Li Qinghua. Determination of End Restrain and
vortex-shedding induced vibration of most members while Vibration Critical Wind Speed for Steel Tube Members of Typical Node
benefit reduction of tower weight. Structure [J], Electric Power Construction, 2006, 27(4): 37-40 (in Chinese)
If lower limit of first-order vibration critical wind [5] China Electric Power Research Institute, Research Report on Structural Test of
speed is determined as 8m/s, first-order vortex-shedding UHV Transmission Line Steel Tubular Tower [R], 2009
induced vibration can be controlled for members with
following slenderness ratios: solid joint for both ends, less
than or equal to 180; solid joint for one end, hinge for
another, less than 150; hinge for both ends, less than 120
Seen from analysis above, constraint of hinge for both
ends is considered only for calculating vibration wind
speed for members with slenderness ratio over 160. Thus,
if the lower limit is determined as 8m/s, first-order
vortex-shedding induced vibration can be actually
controlled for members with slenderness ratio less than
150.
Results above are analyzed as measured length of
member. Since diameters of supporting steel tubes on both
ends are considered in calculation of slenderness ratio in
structural design, actually controllable slenderness ratio
may be over 150. On the other end, since calculated wind
speed is slightly lower than measured value, wind speed
will exceed 8m/s in actual vibration, also benefit for
extending selection of slenderness ratio.
Thus, it is reputed that if first-order vibration critical
wind speed is determined as 8m/s, first-order vibration of
members with slenderness ratio within 160 can be
controlled so that vortex-shedding induced vibration can be
effectively restrained.

VII.CONCLUSION
Vortex-shedding vibration of tubular tower is
across-wind movement caused by Karman vortex street on
some circular-section members under low wind speed.
Simplified formula given in the paper can be applied for
calculation of vibration critical wind speed. (2) End
constraint for different types of nodes: in consideration of
economy, limit value of first-order vibration critical wind
speed can be determined not less than 8m/s. As indicated
by analysis, the value selection meets economy and
reasonableness and can control first-order vortex-shedding
induced vibration for members with slenderness ratio
within 160.