Reinforced Concrete Wind Turbine Towers: Damage Mode and Model Testing

This study investigates the complex load-bearing mechanism of the reinforced concrete tower of large wind turbines through a structural model test. MTS electro-hydraulic servo loading system was used to load two reinforced concrete tower models for the push-out test. The ultimate bearing capacity of the reinforced concrete tower was found to be 8.894 kN. The test findings revealed that the top of the tower is subjected to unilateral shear as the horizontal load increases. As a result, the concrete strain in the compression zone of the test piece increases to its highest level in the bottom plastic hinge area. The concrete in the compression zone is being crushed in the meantime. The reinforcement achieves its yield point and deforms within the range of plastic failure when subjected to extreme loads. The outcomes of this study serve as a foundation for the running of wind turbines in extreme conditions.