Flexible photovoltaic support steel strand tensioning

Why are flexible PV mounting systems important?

Traditional rigid photovoltaic (PV) support structures exhibit several limitations during operational deployment. Therefore, flexible PV mounting systems have been developed. These flexible PV supports, characterized by their heightened sensitivity to wind loading, necessitate a thorough analysis of their static and dynamic responses.

What is the inclination angle of the flexible PV support?

The span of the flexible PV support is 33 m, which is consisted of 28 PV modules. The inclination angle between the PV modules and the horizontal plane is 15°, and the PV modules are mounted on two steel cables C1 and C2. Furthermore, steel cable C3 is set to reduce the vertical deformation under the actions of wind and snow loadings.

Do stability cables increase critical wind velocity of flexible PV modules support structures?

Wind-induced response and critical wind velocity of a 33-m-span flexible PV modules support structure was investigated by using wind tunnel tests based on elastic test model, and the effectiveness of three types of stability cables on enhancing the critical wind velocity of the flexible PV modules support structures was carefully examined.

Do flexible PV support structures deflection more sensitive to fluctuating wind loads?

This suggests that the deflection of the flexible PV support structure is more sensitive to fluctuating wind loads compared to the axial force. Considering the safety of flexible PV support structures, it is reasonable to use the displacement wind-vibration coefficient rather than the load wind-vibration coefficient.

What are the reinforcement strategies for flexible PV support structures?

This study proposes and evaluates several reinforcement strategies for flexible PV support structures. The baseline, unreinforced flexible PV support structure is designated as F. The first reinforcement strategy involves increasing the diameter of the prestressed cables to 17.8 mm and 21.6 mm, respectively.

What is a supporting cable structure for PV modules?

Czaloun (2018) proposed a supporting cable structure for PV modules, which reduces the foundation to only four columns and four fundaments. These systems have the advantages of light weight, strong bearing capacity, large span, low cost, less steel consumption and applicability to complex terrain.