Reinforced Concrete Column-Supported Hyperboloid Cooling Tower Stability Assessment for Seismic Loads

In recent years, th e use of larger Reinforced Concrete (R.C.) column-supported hyperboloid cooli ng t owers has been increased signifi cantl y. T hus, th e investigati on on failure criter ia fo r st ructu ral comp onents of such stru ctu res under different loads has been found as an essent ial need. Const ruction of cooling towers in seismic zones initiated th e st udy on t he dynamic behavior of such stru ctures due to seismic loads. In t his paper, fi nite element analyses have been performed to obt ain th e st ress concent ration, nonlinear behavior, stabilit y or safety fact or of th e R. c. tower due to earth quake loads. Outcomes of th e st udy show that considerable plast ic hinges were created in t he .\ shape long colu mns of t he R.C. hyperbo loid coo ling tower due to seismic loads, which resulted in a signi ficant decrease in th e stabilit y safety fact or and, th us, an increase in concerns.