Theoretical and experimental study on overall stability for the thin-walled double cantilever photovoltaic stent under uniform pressure

• Published in: Solar energy 2023-05, Vol.255, p.507-521
• Main Authors: Hu, Baolin, Xu, Shian, Wu, Renjie, Wang, Changhong, Zou, Yan, Hou, Juan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Double cantilever photovoltaic stent; Lateral-torsional buckling; Overall stability test; Thin-walled Z-shaped steel; Torsional restraint stiffness
• ISSN: 0038-092X; 1471-1257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2023.03.038

[Display omitted] •The critical load formula of Double-Cantilever Photovoltaic Stent is given.•Failure modes of the Double-Cantilever Photovoltaic Stent under uniform pressure is studied.•Theoretical formula of torsional restraint stiffness is given based on laboratory test data. As an important part of the solar-energy system, the bearing capacity design is crucial to the photovoltaic stent structure. It consists of thin-walled steel components, which are prone to bending and torsional buckling after being stressed. However, it is rare to conduct a comprehensive analysis and experimental research on the lateral-torsional buckling (LTB) behavior of the photovoltaic stent. In this study, Rayleigh-Ritz method is utilized to analyze the stability of the Z-shaped thin-walled Double Cantilever Photovoltaic Stent (DCPS) under uniform pressure, and the theoretical formulas for its critical load are derived. In addition, the stability failure experiment and Finite-Element (FE) simulation of the thin-walled DCPS under uniform pressure are carried out. Through mutual verification of the theoretical derivation, experimental data and FE modeling results, the failure modes of the DCPS under uniform pressure is studied, the effects of different influencing factors on the bearing capacity of the structure are studied through the parametric analysis, and the theoretical formula of torsional restraint stiffness Kr is given based on laboratory test data. The research results can provide a reference for the design of photovoltaic structures.