Study on wind load characteristics of three-centered cylindrical latticed shells with different rise-to-span ratios

This study carried out rigid model pressure measurement wind tunnel tests and numerical simulations on six three-centered cylindrical latticed shells with varying rise-to-span ratios under multiple wind directions, to obtain their overall force coefficients, shape coefficients at measuring taps, and zonal shape coefficients and reveal the wind load mechanism. The results demonstrate that the overall force coefficients vary significantly with wind direction and rise-to-span ratio, with both their magnitudes and variation amplitudes decreasing as the rise-to-span ratio decreases. Under spanwise wind flow, a reduction in the rise-to-span ratio diminishes wind suction on the top and leeward regions. Under longitudinal wind flow, the wind pressure distribution shows limited sensitivity to changes in the rise-to-span ratio, with the maximum wind suction occurring at the windward edge region. Under non-orthogonal wind inflows, the maximum wind suction appears at the windward edge of the top region. The study provides fitting formulas for overall force coefficients and recommended values for zonal shape coefficients, offering references for structural design and revisions of relevant codes and standards. By comparing shape coefficients at measuring taps and zonal shape coefficients under spanwise wind flow with existing codes, a five-zone division method based on the rise-to-span ratio is proposed, which more accurately describes the distribution patterns of shape coefficients along the cross-section.