A Novel Framework for Simulating Wind-Induced Deformations in Residential Solar Panels

The installation of residential rooftop solar panels has increased rapidly, which led to concerns about their structural stability during high winds, especially in areas that experience cyclones. This research examines wind pressure effects on a standard residential solar panel structure through a two-dimensional plane-stress model created with MATLAB's PDE Toolbox. The aluminum plate for this research study representing the panel measures 1.6 meters by 1.0 meters and possesses different thickness levels. The research simulation carried out static wind load simulations for wind speeds between 20 km/h and 160 km/h by applying uniform line loads derived from dynamic pressure calculations. Each case produces maximum displacement and von Mises stress distributions, which show a quadratic correlation between wind speed and deformation that matches theoretical expectations. A sinusoidal time-varying load simulates gust effects by recording dynamic variations in peak displacement and stress throughout a 2-second time frame. A parametric study shows how varying panel thickness affects maximum deformation because increasing thickness from 20 mm to 50 mm decreases deflection substantially but only moderately impacts stress distribution. The findings demonstrate that wind thresholds reach near material yield limits, which underscores the need for strong mounting systems and structural reinforcement where high winds are common. Research findings highlight that both panel thickness and structural support play essential roles as design parameters for maintaining residential solar installation safety and durability over time. To achieve thorough evaluations of PV system performance against realistic wind conditions, future studies must utilize three-dimensional modelling together with transient CFD simulations and experimental validation.