Wind tunnel test on suppressing vortex-induced vibrations of steel tubes in power transmission towers

To investigate the effects of spoilers for mitigating vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of steel tubes in transmission towers, a series of wind tunnel tests on steel tubes with various design parameters of spoilers are carried out. The well established formula for predicting the VIV critical wind speed and the VIV maximum amplitude of steel tubes are verified, and the influence of configuration, spacing, length, and height of spoilers on VIV suppression rate are systematically studied. In addition, the material cost, installation cost and vibration suppression rate are taken into consideration for evaluating the cost performance of the spoiler with different design parameters. And the optimal design plan of the spoiler in considering the cost is selected based on the Pareto optimal solution method. Finally, corresponding suggestions on the value of the spoiler design parameters are given for the best control of vortex-induced vibrations of the steel tubes in transmission towers.