Wind Load Analysis in Cooling Tower Systems

Wind load analysis addresses the environmental forces exerted by airflow on the external surfaces of cooling towers; these large thin‐shell structures, typically hyperbolic in form, must resist complex static and dynamic wind pressures to maintain structural integrity. Assessment strategies range from full‐scale field measurements and wind tunnel experiments to high‐fidelity numerical simulations involving computational fluid dynamics and finite element analysis. Key considerations include the non‐uniform distribution of pressure coefficients around the shell, the influence of atmospheric turbulence and extreme events such as typhoons, and interaction effects between closely spaced towers. Recent advances have refined the understanding of wind‐induced vibration, buckling and collapse mechanisms, informing design codes and enabling more accurate prediction of serviceability and safety under both normal operational conditions and extreme wind scenarios.

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A detailed simulation of typhoon‐driven collapse in large hyperbolic cooling towers has been achieved by combining mesoscale weather‐forecast models with CFD downscaling and explicit dynamic finite element analysis. This approach has elucidated the sequential failure process, revealing critical deformations in the windward throat region and identifying bending‐arch and suspension‐wire collapse mechanisms under high‐energy wind fields. In a separate study, field measurements on a ribbed cooling tower in a high‐wind region have quantified realistic wind pressure distributions, demonstrating that negative pressure peaks on the leeward side exceed standard code predictions and vary significantly with Reynolds number. These empirical data have been used to calibrate numerical models, improving the accuracy of pressure coefficient distributions. Moreover, finite‐element investigations of free‐standing and closely spaced hyperbolic towers have mapped wind pressure isofields at multiple elevations, revealing that inter‐tower interference alters circumferential pressure patterns in ways not fully accounted for by existing regulations. This work underscores the need to revise interference factors and height‐dependent loading provisions to enhance design reliability.

Wind Load Analysis in Cooling Tower Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in wind load analysis in cooling tower systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Wind load: The force per unit area exerted by wind on a structure’s surface.

Pressure coefficient (Cp): A dimensionless parameter expressing local wind pressure relative to free‐stream dynamic pressure.

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD): A numerical method for simulating fluid flow and related forces on complex geometries.

Finite element analysis (FEA): A computational technique for predicting structural response by subdividing a complex geometry into discrete elements.

Hyperbolic cooling tower: A tall, thin‐shell reinforced concrete structure with a hyperboloid profile optimised for natural draught airflow.

References

1. Typhoon-Induced Failure Process and Collapse Mechanism of Super-Large Cooling Tower Based on WRF-CFD-LS/DYNA Nesting Technology. Applied Sciences (2022).
2. FIELD MEASUREMENT AND NUMERICAL STUDY OF EXTERNAL WIND PRESSURE OF RIBBED COOLING TOWER. Stavební obzor - Civil Engineering Journal (2021).
3. Study of Wind Loads on Free-Standing and Closely Spaced Hyperbolic Cooling Towers. Modern Trends in Construction Urban and Territorial Planning (2023).