Shear plastic dynamic behaviour of wind turbine towers

The analysis of structures subjected to earthquake actions can be carried out by means of several methods with different levels of accuracy, among which the nonlinear dynamics is generally recognized as the most reliable one. This paper presents a general treatment to develop approximate solutions for rigid-plastic response of structures subjected to base harmonic pulse, by means of a numerical procedure on purpose developed. The case study is a vertical cantilever beam, with base support, constant mass and inertia distribution, subjected to only ground acceleration. The failure is assumed depending on the formation of a single shear hinge and the results are expressed in general terms. As a result, the motion proceeds through successive spreading and contractions of the plastic front and related elastic returns. Possible applications of the method to real structures can be envisaged.