Design of Tall Cable-Supported Windbreak Panels

The design and construction of tall and slender steel structures is always challenging. This paper discusses several design aspects (structural information, analysis methods, applied loads, cost optimisation) and a case study regarding the design and construction of 10-m-tall windbreak panels for a Greek electricity producer. The purpose of the panels is to reduce wind turbulence and improve the performance of the electricity producer’s air-cooled condenser. In this case, the main wind load acts in the longitudinal direction, with friction inducing only a small amount of wind load in the transverse direction. The steel columns are constructed from 10-m-tall hot-rolled IPE 270 (S235) cross-sections, and are supported by cables in the longitudinal direction and bracing systems in the transverse direction. Concrete anchorages and concrete footings are used for the cables and steel columns, respectively. System optimisation is investigated in terms of the steel weight, cable length, and overall cost, and practical issues are explained regarding technical decisions. Furthermore, the construction details, construction methods, and cost estimation are discussed.