Free and Forced Vibration Analysis of an Idealized Compliant Tower With Superstructure, due to Current Loads, Wave Excitation, and Earthquake Impulses

A compliant tower (CT) is modeled as a partially dry, partially tapered, damped Timoshenko beam with the superstructure modeled as an eccentric tip mass, and a non-classical damped boundary at the base. The foundation is modeled as a combination of a linear spring and a torsional spring, along with linear and torsional dampers. The mean empty space factor due to the truss type structure of the tower is included. The effect of shear deformation and rotary inertia are included in the vibration analysis; with the non-uniform beam mode-shapes being a weighted sum of the uniform beam mode-shapes. The weights are evaluated by the Rayleigh-Ritz method, using the first ten modes and verified using Finite Element Method (FEM). The superstructure adds to the kinetic energy without affecting the stiffness of the beam, thereby reducing the natural frequencies. The weight of the superstructure acts as an axial compressive load on the beam, reducing its frequencies further. Kelvin-Voigt model of structural damping is included. A part of the structure being underwater, the virtual added inertia is included to calculate the wet natural frequencies. The CT is first subjected to steady current loads of a given velocity profile. The static deflection and overturning moment is estimated for current loads. The CT is then studied for wave excitation at various seas states. Morrison’s equation and Pierson-Moskowitz Spectrum are used to derive the forces for different sea states. The forced vibration analysis of the structure is done via Rayleigh-Ritz method and verified using FEM. The maximum horizontal deflection and shear stress of the base of the superstructure, and the normal/shear stresses at the foundation are analyzed. Finally, the CT is subjected to earthquake excitation, modeled as an arbitrary horizontal impact excitation at the base. The above forced vibration analysis is repeated.