Analysis of Hyperbolic Cooling Tower Across Varying Earthquake Zones

This project uses STAAD to present the seismic analysis of a hyperbolic natural draft cooling tower located in Krishnapatnam Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh. As a vital component in industrial and power plant infrastructure, the structural stability of cooling towers under seismic loading is essential— particularly in regions like Krishnapatnam, which lies in Seismic Zone III as per IS 1893:2002. A tower model with realistic dimensions and material properties was analyzed under seismic forces corresponding to Zones II, III, IV, and V. The comparative study highlights the tower's behaviour under varying seismic intensities and evaluates the effect of zone-wise seismic forces on displacement, internal stresses, and support reactions. The findings support the need for zone-specific design modifications to improve seismic resilience. The study underscores the role of STAAD.Pro is an effective tool for evaluating tall, shell-type structures in earthquake-prone areas. Keywords: Hyperbolic Cooling Tower, Seismic Analysis, Equivalent Static Method, Shell structures, Displacement, Base shear, Principal stress, Plate moments, Plate stresses.