A coupled finite element-optimization technique to determine critical microburst parameters for transmission towers

Most transmission line failures worldwide are attributed to high intensity wind events such as microburst. The velocity profile and loads associated with a microburst wind field vary significantly with the microburst configurations. An optimization technique is coupled with a finite element model in this study to identify the critical microburst parameters that lead to maximum forces in various members of a transmission tower structure. Moreover, the coupled genetic algorithms–finite element code is employed to determine the critical members that are likely to fail during a microburst event and the associated critical microburst configurations.