Experiment-based reliability analysis of structural joints in a steel lattice tower.

Abstract The main aim of this paper is to present a reliability estimation procedure for steel lattice telecommunication towers based on tensioned joint reliability. The experiment, which involved doing a full-scale pushover test of a 40 m high lattice tower, constituted the starting point for further analyses. Experimental data served as bases for finite element model calibration and assignment of steel mechanical properties based on tensile tests. A computational investigation was performed for random wind loads. Numerical considerations included a detailed dynamic analysis with respect to the specific wind velocity–time function, modeling of two particular tower joints by shell finite elements, and elastic-plastic range determination of joint reliability using the first-order and second-order reliability methods. Highlights • Stochastic Finite Element Method (SFEM) analysis of dynamic response of steel lattice tower • SFEM stress analysis of the steel lattice tower joints • SORM and FORM reliability analysis of the steel tower including dynamic wind excitation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]