Seismic Design Scope of Tower Structures for UHV Transmission lines on the Zone of Earthquake Fortification Intensity 8

The seismic action effects of tower structures for ultra-high-voltage(UHV, upon 750KV) overhead transmission lines are much greater than those of 500KV and below, it is necessary to inspect the control load in structural design and specify the seismic design scope of tower structures for these UHV transmission lines. In this paper, the current regulations of seismic design and non-seismic design of tower structures for overhead transmission line were contrasted firstly; then, a series of typical towers including large-crossing towers and cup-towers at soft sites, on the zone of earthquake fortification intensity region of 8, were analyzed. The ratios of seismic action effects and wind load effects for characteristic value were calculated and the control load in structural design of tower structure was investigated. The results show that, although the height and the weigth of tower structures for UHV transmission lines are increasing, the control load in structural design is still the wind load on the zone of earthquake fortification intensity region of 8 and below.