39 / 2022-03-24 11:51:04

Comparison of Two Wind Turbine Hybrid Tower Transition Pieces: Reinforced Concrete Configuration, and Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Configuration

Transition Pieces; Wind turbine supporting system; Nonlinear analysis; Finite element simulation; Ultimate responses.

In recent years, the steel–concrete hybrid tower (SCHT) has attracted great interest in the wind energy industry. While most wind turbine manufacturers have agreed on the advantages of the SCHT, their approach to constructing the transition piece between the concrete and steel portions has varied. To date, two types of transition pieces have emerged in China to reduce their steel cost: (1) reinforced concrete configuration involving traditional mould cast and dense bar groups, and (2) concrete-filled steel tube configuration using the inner and outer steel tubes to serve as the concrete formwork and using the core concrete to prolong the steel local buckling. This paper examines these two configurations and presents the hysteretic behaviors, damage, and failure mechanisms of each when subjected to the complex loads. The results will form a theoretical basis for the application of these transition pieces in practice and the efficient use of wind resources in low wind speed regions.