Nonlinear vibration analysis of a three-dimensional discrete model for guyed towers with unilateral contact restrictions in the cables

Resumo

Guyed towers are slender vertical structures anchored by cables (guy wires), widely used in engineering due to their ability to reach great heights with high structural efficiency. Owing to their slenderness and the interaction between the guy wires and the mast, these towers exhibit complex structural behavior characterized by pronounced geometric nonlinearities. The cable system provides lateral displacement constraints and is highly efficient when subjected to tensile forces. This study aims to investigate the nonlinear static and dynamic behavior of a guyed tower modeled as a discrete three-dimensional system with two degrees of freedom. A central focus of the analysis is the inclusion of unilateral contact in the guy wires, i.e., the assumption that these elements do not resist compressive forces. This restriction introduces a boundary condition that significantly affects structural stability. The results show that accounting for unilateral contact leads to a significant reduction in the tower’s critical load and strongly influences its dynamic behavior. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating geometric nonlinearities and the unilateral behavior of guy wires from the early stages of the design process to ensure a more realistic and safe structural analysis.