Wind Analysis of Microwave Antenna Towers: Research Article ISSN 0976 4259

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENGINEERING RESEARCH, DINDIGUL
Volume 1, No 3, 2010
© Copyright 2010 All rights reserved Integrated Publishing Association
RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259
Wind Analysis of Microwave Antenna Towers
Siddesha.H
Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, S.I.T., Tumkur, Karnataka, India.
siddeshah@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Open latticed steel towers are used widely in a variety of civil engineering applications. The
angle sections are commonly used in microwave antenna towers. This paper presents, the
analysis of microwave antenna tower with Static and Gust Factor Method (GFM). The
comparison is made between the tower with angle and square hollow section. The
displacement at the top of the tower is considered as the main parameter. The analysis is also
done for different configuration by removing one member as present in the regular tower at
lower panels.
Keywords: GFM, panels, configuration, displacement
1. Introduction
While Communication Satellites are used for sending and receiving information signals, very
tall towers are required for transmission of signals through antennae. Tall towers are being
used by different agencies such as television and radio departments, telecommunication
industry, defense, railways and police for their communication network. The microwave
towers, which are space structures in steel, carry mainly communication antennae. These
towers are mostly square in plan, made of standard steel angles and connected together by
means of bolts and nuts. Triangular towers attract lesser wind loads compared with square
towers. However they are used only for smaller heights of tower due to difficulties in joint
detailing and fabrication using angle sections (Gomathinayagam,S,June 2000).
Ultimately, the general availability of a wide range of square, rectangular, and round
structural tubing increased. The use of tubular joints greatly improved the aesthetic qualities
of the truss, and the higher load carrying capacity of the structural capacity of the structural
tube members provided a wide range of applications for a triangular cross section truss.
Tubular sections are used for truss members, the range of different standard shapes and sizes
produced is much less than wide flange shapes and availability of some standard shapes is
still limited.
In order to reduce the unsupported length and thus increase their buckling strength, the main
legs and the bracing members are laterally supported at intervals in between their end nodes,
using secondary bracings or redundants. These secondary bracings increase the buckling
strength of the main compression members (N.Prasad Rao, September 2001), K and X
bracing with secondary bracings were commonly using in microwave towers.
Optimization is the art of obtaining best results under given conditions. An optimization
problem consists of a function, which is to be optimized, and with or without constraints. The
constraints are the conditions to be satisfied during optimization. Optimal design methods
assist engineers to evolve the best possible designs in terms of cost, weight, reliability or a
combination of these parameters. As for as tower and tower like structures are concerned
574
limiting the displacement and stresses to allowable limits optimizes the weight using different
sections. Many methods have been developed and are in use for design optimization of
structural systems. Structural optimization using mathematical programming was very
expensive in the early stages of its development and hence applications to problems were
limited in scope. Recent advances in computer hardware have encouraged researches to give
a new thrust to structural optimization.
The structures like towers and masts are sensitive to dynamic wind load. The need to design a
lattice tower considering resonant dynamic response to wind loads arises when their natural
frequencies are low enough to be excited by the turbulence in the natural wind (J.D.
Holmes,1994). These types of structures, which are vulnerable to wind induced oscillations
are required to be examined for dynamic effects of wind. Further, the structural loads
produced by wind gusts depend of the size, natural frequency and damping of the structure in
addition to the inherent wind turbulence. One of the approaches used for evaluating the
dynamic response of lattice towers is the GFM (Abraham, AugustSeptember 2005).
Dynamic effects of wind for design of lattice towers are considered in GFM. In this approach,
the equivalent wind loading is equal to the mean wind force multiplied by a Gust Factor. This
load is applied as an equivalent static loading on structures. This factor is a function of wind,
terrain and structural characteristics. The Gust present in strong winds are caused by
mechanical disturbance to the flow resulting from the roughness of the ground surface (T.A.
Wyatt, October 1984).
Stewarts and Lloyds first introduced the hollow structural sections in 1952, they have become
increasingly popular as structural elements, mainly due to their structural advantage like high
torsional capacity, structural efficiency and aesthetic qualities (A.N. Nayak, November
1997). Less work has been reported in the literatures with regards to square hollow sections
used in tower structures.
Many of the towers were failed for wind loads with leg and brace members in angle sections.
A few examples are: the failure of 101m tall microwave tower, during Nov.1989, at kavali,
Andhra Pradesh, and the collapse of 101m microwave tower during Nov.1996 at Ravalepalm,
Andhra Pradesh, due to cyclonic wind forces. In June 1998 eight microwave towers of height
80100m collapsed during cyclone, which ravaged Kutch region of Gujrat. These failures
revealed the importance of investigating the static and dynamic effects of wind of tall tower
structures with angle sections. It is necessary to replace the angle section in microwave tower
with different sections and configuration.
2. Modeling and analysis of tower
The modeling and analysis of tower is done by using ANSYS software. For the present
analysis, the members of the tower are modeled by using BEAM 188 element. Several
authors have done the experimental (P.Harikrishna, 2003, and K.Hiramatsu, 1988) and
analytical investigations by using various finite element softwares (J.G.S. da Silva, 2005,
M.J. Glanville, 1995 and P.J. Murtagh, 2004).
575
2.1 Material properties
The most widely used commercial structural material low carbon steel (C 14) with Density
7870 kg/m 3 , Tensile strength (yield) 415 Mpa, Modulus of Elasticity200 Gpa, has been
selected for the study. The chemical composition of the section used in the present analysis
has been shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Chemical Composition
Composition C Fe Mn P S
% 0.120.18 99.1399.58 0.30.6 <=0.04 <=0.05
2.2 Tower Configuration and Sections
In this study, a 40mheight tower of square in plan is considered which is having a base width
of 4m and reduces to 1.91m at the top. The analysis has been done for the following sections
in regular tower configuration for the entire tower as shown in Figure 1. The sections adopted
for this configuration are as below,
§ A tower with Leg and bracing members as Angle Sections (LA & BA)
§ A tower with Leg members as Square Hollow and bracing members as Angle
Sections (LS & BA)
§ A tower with Leg and bracing members as Square Hollow Sections (LS & BS).
The total weight of the tower is kept nearly constant for all these sections. The wind load has
been calculated using static method and GFM. The calculated values have been applied on
the tower.
The analysis is also done for different configuration with different sections at bottom first,
second and both the panels. The remaining bracings in panels (that is from 3 rd to 14 th ) are
kept constant in terms of configuration and sections as in regular tower (that is case i). The
sections adopted for leg members are similar as explained above (that is case i to iii), but for
bracing members the sectional dimensions were changed. In the present work X, X and
Horizontal and X and M bracing have been used. The configuration of which have been
shown in Figure 2 to Figure 4.
In this study, the loads calculated from regular tower with angle sections is applied on all
configuration and sections under static and GFM, in order to analyse the performance of the
tower.
576
Figure 1: Views of Regular Microwave Tower, a. 3D, b. Front
Figure 2: Configurations of the microwave tower at lower First Panel, a. X, b. X and
Horizontal bracing, c. X and M bracing
Figure 3: Configurations of the microwave tower at lower Second Panel, a. X, b. X and
Figure 4: Configurations of the microwave tower at lower two Panels, a. X, b. X and
577
2.3 Boundary conditions and Loading
All the tower configurations used in this study are assumed as rigidly connected at the base
and all degrees of freedom at the bottom nodes are restrained. Figure 5 (a) shows the Panels
considered for the calculation of wind loads. Figure 5 (b) shows the variation of wind loads at
different panels. In GFM, damping ratios of 0.02 (Structural) as per the IS: 875 (part 3)1987
and 0.04 (Structural and Aerodynamic) were considered (Abraham, Augustseptember 2005).
The aerodynamic damping force arises when the relative motion between the tower and the
wind is considered (J.D. Holmes,1996).
For the calculation of wind loads by static method the following parameters were considered
as per IS: 875 (part 3)1987.Wind speed 55m/s, Risk coefficient (k1)1.08, Terrain, height
and structure size factor (k2) category 2 and class B (assumed), Topography factor (k3)1
(assumed). For the calculations of wind loads by GFM following parameters were considered
as per IS: 875 (part 3)1987. Wind speed 55m/s, Risk coefficient (k1)1.08, Terrain and
height factor ( k 2 )category 2 (assumed), Topography factor (k3) 1(assumed).
The antenna loads have been calculated as reported in the early literature
(Gomathinayagam,S,June 2000 and Sujatha Unnikrishnan.2002) A 3mdiameter paraboloid
type antenna without radome is considered in the present analysis. It is assumed that the
antenna is mounted at a height of 40meter (that is top of the tower) on one of the leg member
facing normal to the direction of wind. The wind incidence angle for the antenna is assumed
as zero degrees. The gust factor is taken as unity. The wind force along the direction of the
wind is obtained as 25044.06 N. This antenna load is used in both the Methods and is applied
for all other configurations.
a
300 00
b Static Method
250 00 GFM f or 2% damping
GFM f or 4% damping
200 00
Loads (N)
150 00
100 00
50 00
0
1 3 5 7 9 11 13
Pan e ls
Figure 5: Wind load calculation, a. Panels of regular microwave tower, b. Variation of loads

at different Panels
578
3 Results and Discussions
3.1 Modal analysis of tower
In the present study, the modal analysis of the tower is carried out by Subspace iteration
method. The modal analysis helps in computation of natural frequencies and the
corresponding mode shapes of the structure, which essentially depends on distribution of
stiffness and mass within the structure. The natural frequencies obtained through modal
analysis are shown in Table 2. First three mode shapes of the tower are shown in Figure 6.
The first modal frequency of the tower is taken for wind load calculation from GFM.
Table 2: Natural frequencies using Modal Analysis
Mode Frequency (Hz)
1 0.723542
2 0.723817
3 1.82300
Figure 6: Mode shapes, a. First, b. Second, c. Third
579
3.2 Displacement at the top of Microwave Antenna tower for regular configuration with
different sections.
In the present analysis, the displacement of microwave antenna tower at the top 40m level has
been considered as the main parameter. A regular tower with different sections and regular
configuration has been studied under static and GFM.
Figure 7 show the variation of displacement at the top of the regular tower for different
sections. Wind forces calculated by static method and GFM were evaluated earlier. In GFM,
the Gust Factor (G) has to be multiplied with the design wind pressure. So, the design wind
forces in GFM (for 2% and 4% damping) get increased as compared to the static method.
However, for 4% damping (structural and aerodynamic), G values get reduced as compared
to 2% (structural) damping. Hence, Figure 7 (b) illustrates, the displacement at the top of the
tower gets reduced for 4% damping in GFM.
0.29
0.36
a 2% Damping
b
Displacements (m)
Displacements (m)
0.35
0.285 4% Damping
0.34
0.33
0.28
0.32
0.31
0.275
0.3
0.27 0.29
LA & BA LS & BA LS & BS LA & BA LS & BA LS & BS
Sections Sections
Figure 7: Variation of Displacement at top with different crosssections in regular tower, a.
Static method, b. GFM
The square hollow sections used in tower shows a maximum reduction of displacement in
comparison with angle sections. This is due to, the moment of inertia of square hollow
section is larger than angle section. Figure 7 illustrates the regular tower with LS & BS
shows maximum reduction of displacement in comparison with LS & BA and LA & BA.
However, there is no much reduction of displacement between the tower with LS & BS and
LS & BA.
3.3 Displacement at the top of Microwave Antenna tower for different configuration
with different sections at different panels under Static and GFM.
Wind forces calculated by static method and GFM were evaluated earlier. In GFM, the Gust
Factor (G) has to be multiplied with the design wind pressure. So, the design wind force in
GFM (for 2% and 4% damping) gets increased as compared to the static method. However,
for 4% damping (structural and aerodynamic), G values get reduced as compared to 2%
580
(structural) damping. Hence the displacement at the top of the tower will reduced for 4%
damping. Figure 8 and Figure 9 show the variation of displacement for different
configuration and sections by both these methods.
As we know, by adding members or changing configuration in the panels stiffness of the
tower increases and thereby displacement of the tower gets reduces. From Figure 8 and
Figure 9, X and M bracing will shows the maximum reduction of displacement as compared
to X and X and Horizontal bracing in both the methods.
The bending moment increases with increase in distance from the point of application of the
force. Since antenna load is applied at the top point of the tower, the lower first panel with X
and M bracing shows maximum reduction of displacement as compared to lower second and
lower two panels.
The square hollow sections used in tower shows a maximum reduction of displacement in
comparison with angle sections. This is due to, the moment of inertia of square hollow
section is larger than angle section. From Figure 8 and Figure 9, the tower with LS & BS
shows maximum reduction of displacement in comparison with LS & BA and LA & BA.
The top line in Figure 8 shows the regular tower with angle section, which is taken for the
comparison. However, there is no much reduction of displacement between the tower with L
S & BS and LS & BA.
0.295
a
Displacements (m)
0.29
0.285
0.28
0.275
LA & BA
0.27 LS & BA
LS & BS
0.265
Regular X bracing X and X and M
tow er Horizontal bracing
Configuration bracing
0.295
b
0.29
Displacements (m)
0.285
0.28
0.275
LA & BA
0.27 LS & BA
LS & BS
0.265
Regular X bracing X and X and M
581
0.295
c
Displacements (m)
0.29
0.285
0.28
0.275
LA & BA
0.27 LS & BA
LS & BS
0.265
Regular X bracing
X and X and M
Figure 8: Displacement at top of the tower for different sections with different configuration
from Static method, a. Lower first panel, b. Lower second panel, c. Lower two panels
0.36
a
0.35
Displacemetnts (m)
0.34
0.33
0.32
0.31
0.3
0.29
LA & BA LS & BA LS & BS
Configuration
2% X bracing 2% X and Horizontal bracing
2% X and M bracing 4% X bracing
4% X and Horizontal bracing 4% X and M bracing
0.36
b
0.35
Displacements (m)
0.34
0.33
0.32
0.31
0.3
0.29
Configuration
582
0.36
c
0.35
Displacements (m)
0.34
0.33
0.32
0.31
0.3
0.29
Configuration
Figure 9: Displacement at top of the tower for different sections with different configuration
from GFM, a. Lower first panel, b. Lower second panel, c. Lower two panels
4. Conclusions
The analysis of microwave antenna tower with different sections and configurations were
done for wind loads. The following conclusions may be drawn from the above analytical
results.
· Square hollow sections can be used more effectively in leg members in comparison
with the angle sections in regular tower under static and GFM.
· Square hollow Sections used in bracings along with the leg members do not show
much reduction of displacement compared to tower with Square Hollow sections used
in Leg members under static and GFMs.
· X and M bracing in Square hollow Sections for legs and bracings at the lower first
panel shows a maximum reduction of displacement compared to the regular tower
with angle sections under static and GFMs.
· X and M bracing in Square hollow Sections for legs and bracings at the lower first
panel shows a maximum reduction of displacement in comparison with the tower with
Square hollow Sections for legs and bracings in lower second, lower first and second
panels with different configurations in both static and GFM.
5. References
1. Gomathinayagam,S., Shanmugasudaram,J., Harikrishna,P., Lakshmanan,N., and

Rajasekaran,C. (June 2000). “ Dynamic Response of Lattice Tower with Antenna
under Wind Loading.” J. of The Institution of Engineers (India), 81, pp 3743.
583
2. N.Prasad Rao, V. Kalyanaraman, (September 2001), “ Nonlinear behaviour of
lattice panel of angle towers”, J. of Constructional Steel Research, 57, pp 1337
1357.
3. J.D. Holmes,(1994), “Alongwind response of lattice towers: part I derivation of
expressions for gust response factors”. Engng Struct., 16(4), pp 287292.
4. Abraham, Harikrishna.P, Gomathinayagam.S, and Lakshmanan.N, (August

September 2005), “Failure investigation of microwave towers during cyclones A
case study.” J. of Struct. Engg., 32,(3), pp 147157.
5. T.A. Wyatt, (October 1984), “An assessment of the sensitivity of lattice towers to
fatigue induced by wind guts.” J. of Struct. Engg., 6, pp 262267.
6. A.N. Nayak, Dr.S.K. Bhattacharya, (November 1997), “Behaviour of Joints with
Rectangular and Square Hollow Sections.” J. of the institution of Engineers, Civil
Engineering Division.78, pp 116122.
7. P.Harikrishna, A.Annadurai, S.Gomathinayagam, N.Laxman,(2003), “Full scale

measurements of the structural response of a 50 m guyed mast under wind loading.”
Engng Struct. 25,pp 859867.
8. K.Hiramatsu and H.Akagi, (1988), “The response of latticed steel towers due to the
action of wind.” J. of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 30, 716.
9. J.G.S. da Silva, P.C.G. da S. Vellasco, S.A.L. de Andrade, M.I.R. de Oliveira,
(2005), “Structural assessment of current steel design models for transmission and
telecommunication towers.” J. of Constructional Steel Research, 61,pp 11081134.
10. M.J. Glanville, K.C.S. Kwok, (1995), “Dynamic characteristics and wind induced
response of a steel frame tower.” J. of Wind Engineering and Industrial
Aerodynamics, 54/55,pp 133149.
11. P.J. Murtagh, B. Basu, B.M. Broderick, (2004), “Simple models for natural
frequencies and mode shapes of towers supporting utilities.” Computers and
Structures, 82,pp 17451750.
12. IS: 875 (part 3)1987, Indian Code of Practice for Design Loads (other than
Earthquake) for Buildings and Structures, Part 3: Wind Loads. Bureau of Indian
Standards, New Delhi (1989).
13. J.D. Holmes,(1996), “Alongwind response of lattice towersII. Aerodynamic

damping and deflections.” Engng Struct.,18(7),pp 483488.
14. Sujatha Unnikrishnan.(2002), “Dynamic Analysis of Microwave Antenna Tower.”

M.Tech thesis, B.V.B. College of Engineering, Hubli.
584

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENGINEERING RESEARCH, DINDIGUL

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

Composition C Fe Mn P S

% 0.120.18 99.1399.58 0.30.6 <=0.04 <=0.05

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

Figure 5: Wind load calculation, a. Panels of regular microwave tower, b. Variation of loads

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

1. Gomathinayagam,S., Shanmugasudaram,J., Harikrishna,P., Lakshmanan,N., and

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

4. Abraham, Harikrishna.P, Gomathinayagam.S, and Lakshmanan.N, (August

7. P.Harikrishna, A.Annadurai, S.Gomathinayagam, N.Laxman,(2003), “Full scale

13. J.D. Holmes,(1996), “Alongwind response of lattice towersII. Aerodynamic

14. Sujatha Unnikrishnan.(2002), “Dynamic Analysis of Microwave Antenna Tower.”

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Wind Analysis of Microwave Antenna Towers: Research Article ISSN 0976 4259

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENGINEERING RESEARCH, DINDIGUL

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN ­ 0976­4259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN ­ 0976­4259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN ­ 0976­4259

Composition C Fe Mn P S

% 0.12­0.18 99.13­99.58 0.3­0.6 <=0.04 <=0.05

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN ­ 0976­4259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN ­ 0976­4259

Figure 5: Wind load calculation, a. Panels of regular microwave tower, b. Variation of loads

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN ­ 0976­4259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN ­ 0976­4259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN ­ 0976­4259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN ­ 0976­4259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN ­ 0976­4259

1. Gomathinayagam,S., Shanmugasudaram,J., Harikrishna,P., Lakshmanan,N., and

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN ­ 0976­4259

4. Abraham, Harikrishna.P, Gomathinayagam.S, and Lakshmanan.N, (August­

7. P.Harikrishna, A.Annadurai, S.Gomathinayagam, N.Laxman,(2003), “Full scale

13. J.D. Holmes,(1996), “Along­wind response of lattice towers­II. Aerodynamic

14. Sujatha Unnikrishnan.(2002), “Dynamic Analysis of Microwave Antenna Tower.”

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RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

% 0.120.18 99.1399.58 0.30.6 <=0.04 <=0.05

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

RESEARCH ARTICLE ISSN 09764259

4. Abraham, Harikrishna.P, Gomathinayagam.S, and Lakshmanan.N, (August

13. J.D. Holmes,(1996), “Alongwind response of lattice towersII. Aerodynamic