Experimental wind load model for heliostats

Wind loads greatly affect the mechanical performance and tracking accuracy of heliostats. Therefore, the wind load must be accurately known to assure the operational reliability of heliostats. A simple wind load model was developed based on experiments on an actual heliostat rather than a wind tunnel heliostat model. The tested factors include the strain in the pedestal and the wind velocity at different heights. The test results were used to develop a mathematical wind load model for use in a finite element analysis of the heliostat. The finite element results agree with the experimental data; therefore, this experimental method provides a reference for wind-resistance designs of heliostats.