Dynamic Response of a Guyed Mast under Seismic Loadings

Alberto Marcelo Guzman, Francisco Alberto Calderon, V?ctor Alejandro Roldan

Abstract: The use of guyed masts to support communication antennas is much extended. In the design stages or reinforcement of these systems, uncertainties related with the structural dynamic behavior are unavoidable, such as the variability?s of the guy pretension, the equivalent damping and the bending stiffness of the mast. The aim of the present work is to evaluate the parametric sensitivity of a guyed mast under seismic loading. The problem is solved in a finite element environment under the action of six seismic records of different earthquakes. The sensitivity of the resulting base shear and the horizontal displacement at the top to the variation of the guy pretension, the equivalent damping and the bending stiffness, is assessed. The changes in these parameters values modify significantly the dynamic structural response.

Keywords: guyed mast, seismic response, earthquakes, parametric study