Journal of Sound and Vibration (1978) 57(l), 131-148

THE MODAL PROPERTIES OF MODEL AND FULL SCALE

COOLING TOWERS

P. E. WINNEY
Central Electricity Research Laboratories, Leatherhead KT22 7SE, England

(Received 7 February 1971, and in revised form 17 November 1977)

Resonance tests have been carried out on a model and full scale cooling tower. The
object of the tests was to determine the resonant frequencies, mode shapes and associated
damping ratios of the wind shield and legs. The tests have produced data which have been
used to check the validity of a theoretical method of assessing dynamic response, and the
correctness of currently accepted modelling criteria has been explicitly demonstrated.

1. INTRODUCTION

In 1965 a programme of work was initiated at C.E.R.L. to examine the dynamic and static
structural behaviour of cooling towers in the presence of wind excitation. The interaction
between tower and wind was studied largely through wind tunnel experiments on aeroelastic
models [l]. An essential feature of these models is that by observing the appropriate laws of
similitude, which in this case relate to geometry, density, damping ratio, elastic modulus and
Poisson’s ratio, it can be assumed that the full scale dynamic behaviour is accurately modelled.
This allows stress measurements to be made on the model which can be directly related to the
stresses in the full scale tower.
Choice of model material and lack of information concerning foundation properties of
cooling towers imposed certain limitations on the models. In particular, the Poisson’s ratio of
the material is only approximately equal to that of concrete, and the model foundations have
been made rigid.
The approach to the study of the structural properties was three-fold : a theoretical study of
the structural dynamics was undertaken, based on the finite element analysis technique, an
experimental investigation of the dynamic behaviour of a full scale cooling tower was carried
out and the dynamics of a model were investigated. Because the model is machined from a
homogeneous, isotropic material its geometry and physical properties can be very well
defined and used as the basis for an exact mathematical model of the tower. Calculations
based on this model can be used to test theoretical techniques before applying them to the less
well defined full scale cooling tower. The usefulness of the model work is, therefore, to check
the validity of the modelling criteria adopted for the production of aeroelastic models, to act
as a “proving ground” for the techniques to be adopted in the full scale exercise and to provide
a link between theory and full scale measurements.
This paper describes the experimental investigations made during the prqject. The finite
element analysis technique adopted is reported in a companion paper [2].

2. DESCRIPTION OF COOLING TOWER

2.1. THE FULL SCALETOWER

One of six identical cooling towers at Didcot Power Station was chosen for the tests since
these typified the current design of the largest tower in use by the C.E.G.B. at that time. In
131
0022-46OX/78/03084H 31 $02.00/O 8 1978 Academic Press Inc. (London) Limited
 132 P. E. WINNEY

addition to this, the tower chosen had not been used and was, superficially at least, free from
any geometrical imperfections which would make the interpretation of the results more
difficult. The tower chosen, 3S, is one of a group of three situated to the south of the boiler
house and turbine hall.
Tower 3s is a reinforced concrete hyperboloid 114.1 m high and 86.4 m in diameter at the
ring beam. The shell is 178 mm thick with a tapered thickening towards the ring beam and
cornice (see Figure 1). The shell is supported by 40 pairs of legs each with a cross-section of
457 mm x 457 mm and giving a vertical opening height, for the ingress of air, of 7.62 m
between the base of the shell (ring beam) and the pond sill. The lower ends of the 40 leg pairs
join the pond sill, which is an annulus with a cross-section of a truncated triangle approxi-
mately 3.35 m deep by 2.29 m wide at the base. It was originally intended that the pond sill

Clrclmlferentlal
posltlons of
actuators and

Figure 1. Didcot cooling tower 3s.

would be supported on 80 piles with nominal dimensions 1.22 m in diameter by 23.2 m long,
spaced equally around the sill perimeter and having a rake of 1 in 4. These piles each have a
maximum working load of -3.4 MN. The axial stiffness of the piles was estimated from a
load/deflection curve obtained for rapidly applied increments in the region of the working
load. The average figure arrived at is 7.85 x lo8 N/m for each pile; for sustained loading the
stiffness would be lower due to time dependent consolidation of the Gault clay in which they
rest. Some additional vertical piles 910 mm in diameter and ranging from 6.1 m to 15.2 m long
were installed subsequently over the northern half of the foundation perimeter. The additional
foundation stiffness contributed by these piles cannot be determined and so the figure quoted
above is only approximate if applied to the entire foundation.
The cooling water flow to the tower enters a transition section to a concrete conduit which
runs diametrically across the tower at a height of about 11 m. The conduit feeds distribution
pipes fitted with water spray nozzles which direct the water down over the splash packing.
The cooling water conduit and packing are supported on concrete trestles which are structur-
ally independent of the shell which forms the wind shield; consequently, the walkway on top
of the conduit can be used as a datum from which to measure the shell movement.

2.2. MODEL TOWER

In order to enable a full comparison to be made between model tests and previous aero-
dynamic studies the model of tower 3s was constructed in an identical way to the aeroelastic
models described in reference [l]. Thus, only the wind shield and legs were modelled, these
 VIBRATION OF COOLING TOWERS 133

being to a scale of 1/250th of the linear dimensions of the full scale prototype. The material
used was Devcon “B”, an epoxy resin with added steel powder which has a density (2.3 x
IO3 kg/m3) close to that of concrete and an elastic modulus of 5.2 GN/mZ.
The foundation of the model tower was formed by a flat annular flange, having a rectangular
cross-section of 25 mm x 7 mm, cast on to the lower end of the leg pairs. The complete
windshield/leg assembly was attached, with epoxy resin, to a massive steel plate 533 mm
diameter by 25.4 mm thick.

3. EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS
3.1. PRINCIPLES OF MULTI-POINT RESONANCE TESTING

Previous efforts to define the dynamic behaviour of cooling tower shells had been largely
unsuccessful due to the complexity of the free vibration behaviour of the shell.
Measurements of wind induced strain [3] and displacement [4] had served only to empha-
size the complexity of the response and the difficulty of correlating such measurements with
theory. Investigation with impulse excitation [5] proved to be no more successful in producing
values of resonant frequencies and damping characteristics because of the high modal density
and scarcity of data with which to identify mode shapes.
Tests on l/576 and l/275 scale model cooling towers [6] had clearly shown the existence of
many relatively simple mode shapes of the type shown in Figure 2. In this figure the integer II
can be seen as the number of stationary surface waves around the circumference, or the
number of diameters having a node at each end; the integer m defines the number of nodes
along a meridian (referred to as meridional nodes). Although no attempt was made at that
time to compare model with full scale results, earlier attempts to do this [3] had not been

Sect Ion A

Cychc force input

Section 8

III-1
-\
/?n
Secbon

(4
\ - / /I
A Sectton

I
B

1
1
\\
\
Sechon A Sechn B

n=3 m=l ” c4 m=l n=5 m=l

Secuon A Section B SectIon A Sectjon 8 Section A Section B
-.

P m’

n=3 m=2 n’4 m=2 n=5 m=2

Figure 2. Mode characterization. The vibration shape associated with each mode is characterized by the
integer pair n/m. n is the number of nodal diameters and m is the number of meridional nodes including the
base node. -, Mean position; ---, instantaneous deflection.
134 P. E. WINNEY

particularly successful. This was largely due to lack of information about mode shapes which
would have enabled a one to one comparison between resonances to be made.
In view of the difficulties previously experienced in exciting pure modes of vibration using
acoustic excitation or, at best, one electromagnetic exciter [6] it was decided to introduce more
control over the distribution of force input to the tower by adopting a system of multi-point
excitation. In this way the mode excited would be dependent not only on the exciting frequency
but also on the force distribution. The advantage of this can be seen by reference to the
following simplified case. Suppose that the mode shapes I and II in Figure 2 relate to a two
degree of freedom system and are associated with natural frequencies very close together;
then to excite one to the exclusion of the other with a single or indeterminate (acoustic) force
input is impossible. However, if forces are applied at diametrically opposite points, as shown
in the diagram, the requirement to excite mode I is that the forces be anti-phase, whilst for
mode II they should be in-phase. These conditions are mutually exclusive and correct choice
of phase between the forces would result in isolation of the required mode.
To ensure that the isolated mode is being excited at its natural frequency, the phase angle
between the exciting force and the displacements would be monitored and maintained at 90”
by suitable adjustment of the excitation frequency.
In the real case the situation is complicated by the existence of many other modes of
vibration and a balance has to be struck between the apparent necessity of having an infinite
number of excitation points to achieve exact modal separation [7] and the desirability of
keeping the system as simple as possible. Clearly, it is not possible in practice to achieve
complete modal separation and it is necessary to make an estimate of the effective number of
degrees of freedom of the structure in the frequency range of interest. It has been well
established [8-lo] that, in general, the energy content of natural atmospheric turbulence falls
according to a -513 power law with increase in frequency and the resulting surface pressure
fluctuations fall even more rapidly with frequency [l]. In this context, the effective number of
degrees of freedom is the number of modes which make a significant contribution to the wind
excited response, and one need not consider modes with frequencies more than approximately
twice the lowest natural frequency. From experience gained in previous investigations, and
in view of the difficulty of controlling a multi-point experiment, it was decided to use six
exciters equally spaced around the shell perimeter. It was intended that the suitability of this
arrangement could be assessed on the model before commencing the site investigations.

3.2. MODEL TESTING EQUIPMENT

The model and base plate were mounted on a rotating table on a massive cast iron bed
insulated from extraneous vibration by a flexible mounting.
The force input was from six electro-magnetic exciters equally spaced around the tower at a
height of 48.5 mm above the base. These were aligned such that the force from each was
directed radially inwards, normal to the tower axis. The exciters were fixed to the base plate
in rigid welded steel brackets which also carried non-contacting capacity probes to measure
normal displacement of the shell adjacent to the exciters. Displacements at other points on the
tower were measured with a wandering capacity probe which could be tracked up and down a
meridian; incremental rotation of the tower then provided an overall matrix of measuring
points.
It was determined experimentally that the change in dynamic properties of the tower
caused by mass and stiffness of the exciter armatures would produce a change in resonant
frequency of not more than 0.1%.
Control of the frequency, phase and amplitude of the force input was derived from a
system closely based on the designs of Taylor [I 11. Briefly, since the setting of the force levels
and frequency is an iterative procedure (each adjustment requires re-adjustment of the
 VIBRATION OF COOLING TOWERS 135

previous settings) it has been simplified by automatic control of the excitation frequency to
maintain a predetermined phase between force and response. In this case, since the measured
response is displacement, the criterion by which the existence of resonance is judged is that all
displacements on the tower should be in quadrature with the force input.
The six fixed position displacement signals were applied to the X plates of a rack of CROs
with a quadrature output from the controlling oscillator on the Y plates thereby producing a
series of elliptical Lissajous figures. Thus, the relative phases could be seen at a glance, and at
resonance each Lissajous figure should be a straight line.

3.3. MODEL TEST TECHNIQUE

In order to establish the range of frequencies in which the tower resonances lie, the response
to band limited white noise with a bandwidth of 20 Hz to 20 kHz was measured. From these
data a frequency response function was derived which gave an indication of the resonant
frequencies.
To set up a mode the tower is first vibrated with only one exciter. The excitation frequency
is adjusted until the correct phase relationship between force and its associated displacement
is seen. A second exciter is then switched on and its force output adjusted until the second
probe output is in phase (or antiphase) with the first. It will be found that the phase between
the first exciter and its displacement probe has now moved off the resonant phase condition.
This happens because of the gradual elimination of other modes of vibration from the system
and would continue as the other exciters are “brought in” and adjusted. After switching on the
second exciter, therefore, the servo control is switched on and from this point onwards the
resonant phase condition between force and a chosen displacement is maintained auto-
matically as further exciters are introduced and adjusted.
When the Lissajous displays all show straight lines (or as nearly as possible) the displace-
ment response at various points on the shell is measured with the wandering probe. The signal
from the wandering probe is connected to a transfer function analyser from which a “scatter
plot” of amplitude and phase can be plotted in the form of an Argand diagram. From a plot
of this kind it can be seen whether all the points tested are in quadrature with the force. The
points should ideally lie in a straight line along the imaginary axis and the degree of modal
impurity is indicated by the scatter of the points. These points, for the most part, fall within a
half angle of u and the criterion in setting up a pure mode is to minimize this angle. In most
cases it is possible to make c1< 5”.
If the scatter plot is found to be satisfactory then further measurements are made to define
the natural frequency, damping and displacement shape of the mode. One of the best ways to
display the modal information required is to produce a plot of the locus of the response
vectors at a point on the shell when the excitation is incrementally varied about the natural
frequency keeping the input force amplitudes constant. From a plot of this kind (Figure 3) a
further, and more critical, assessment of modal purity can be made, and frequency and
damping can be measured.
In an effort to isolate the shape of the resonant mode from unwanted interference the
quadrature component of the measured displacement vector was used. This is because inter-
ference due to non-resonant modes would not be in quadrature with the force input and
would tend to change the phase and amplitude of the total response vector by an indeterminate
amount. From a matrix of measurements made at 25 mm increments of height and 10”
increments of angular displacements a contour map ofthe instantaneous normal displacement
is evolved by using a computer program to interpolate between data points. To achieve this,
polynomial functions are generated to produce the best fit to the meridional displacement
shape and combined with the Fourier series which gives the best fit to the circumferential
displacement.
136 P. E. WINNEY

Im

Figure 3. Vector diagram showing amplitude and phase of normal displacement relative to force input :
mode 1 (model). Frequency at maximum quadrature, response N 118.47 Hz; frequency at quadrature response
only- 118.40 Hz; frequency at maximum total response N 118.54 Hz. Damping ratio calculated from: (1)
half quadrature amplitude method (119.37 - 117.30)/2 x 118.47 = 0.008735; (2) half power band width
method (119.53 - 117.47)/2 x 118.57 = 0.008815.

3.4. FULL SCALE TOWER TESTING EQUIPMENT

The force input to the tower was derived from six electrohydraulic exciters equally spaced
around the tower. The exciters took the form of double acting rams each of which moved a
massive trolley along horizontal rails in a reciprocating motion radial to the tower axis. The
force required to move the trolley produces an equal and opposite reaction at the other end of
the ram, which is fixed to the tower.
To keep the force input to the tower as low as possible, it should be applied as far from the
ground level node as is practicable. A height of 12.2 m was chosen as a compromise between
this requirement and the cost and accessibility.
From an approximate calculation of the strain energy in the tower at resonance, taken with
a figure of O-005 for the damping ratio it can be shown that a total force of about 5-6 kN,
applied at an anti-node, is required to maintain a maximum displacement of 0.5 mm. To
develop this energy input with six actuators at the estimated lowest frequency of 1 Hz would
require reaction masses of about 500 kg. But in order to excite detectable responses away from
resonance, exciters capable of producing 22 kN each were adopted, with reaction masses of
1000 kg.
The total mass of one complete exciter arrangement is approximately 2500 kg compared
with 8 x lo6 kg for the mass of the concrete shell. This means that the total mass of all exciters
is 0.2 % of the tower mass whereas the effective mass of the model exciters was 8.5 % of the
model mass. Since the latter produced less than a 0.1% change in resonant frequency of the
model, it is thought that the load imposed on the full scale tower by the mass of the exciters is
negligible.
The force on the cooling tower was measured by means of a load cell which took the form
of a strain gauged thin walled cylinder connecting each hydraulic ram to its trolley. The
 VIBRATION OF COOLING TOWERS 137
strain gauges were mounted and connected in such a way as to compensate for temperature
and bending effects.
The normal movement of the shell was measured at six equi-spaced points around the
tower with variable reluctance accelerometers at a vertical height of 50 m, mounted on the
same meridian as each actuator. The accelerometer signal-conditioning equipment was
balanced to remove the gravitational acceleration component due to the angle at which the
accelerometer was mounted.
Responses at other points on the cooling tower shell were measured with the Deccom. This
is a unique remote measuring vibration transducer based on a 5 mW Helium-Neon laser
powered velocimeter. The principle of the velocimeter is to detect the Doppler shift in the
frequency of light reflected from a moving target. This is achieved by comparison with an
internally generated reference beam. Decca Radar Limited extended the principle of their
existing production model to produce the Deccom, which detects the phase of the velocity as
well as the magnitude, giving a vibration measuring capability [12] with a range of 0 to
3 in/s and an accuracy of -1.0 %. The Deccom is a two part device consisting of an optical
head and a conditioning unit. The optical head was mounted on a “swivel-and-tilt” pan on a
tripod, which allowed it to be rotated through 360” and tilted vertically from 0” (level) to 80”.
The tripod stood at the centre of the tower on the cooling water conduit and the whole inside
surface of the tower shell above 12 m could be scanned from there. The positions of the rams,
accelerometers and Deccom are shown in Figure 1.
The conditioning unit produces a varying voltage which is proportional to the velocity of
the target (shell) in the direction of the light beam. On the basis of the model tests, the
assumption is made that the in-plane displacements are negligible, and the normal velocity is
derived from a simple correction applied to the measured component. The Deccom had the
advantages of remote non-contacting measurement with no requirement for a special
reflector, well defined target area (< 5 mm diameter) and a target easily identifiable by the
bright reflecting spot of red light. Although the use of “Scotchlite” reflecting paper or paint
enhances the performance of the Deccom it was readily usable over a range of up to 105 m
with clean concrete as the target, and with more difficulty at angles of incidence up to 83”.
The force outputs from the hydraulic exciters were controlled by electrohydraulic valves
which meter the flows to the rams. The electrohydraulic valves were driven by a servo-
controlled system identical in function to that used for control of the model excitation. This
has been fully described elsewhere [ 131and although there is a considerable difference in the
circuit design between the model and full scale control systems, due to a factor of 100 between
the operating frequencies, the operation is the same as described for the model system earlier.

3.5. FULL SCALE TEST TECHNIQUE

In order to make an estimate of the frequency range of interest for the resonance tests the
response of the cooling tower to (a) incident wind and (b) random force input from a hydraulic
exciter was measured.
To measure the response to incident wind the signals from all six accelerometers were
recorded on a multi-track instrumentation tape recorder with an FM system which has a flat
frequency response down to d.c. The records were then returned to the laboratory for analysis.
By supplying the electrohydraulic valve of one of the shakers with band limited (O-10 Hz)
white noise it was possible to measure a response at each of the accelerometer positions and
record these, along with the load cell signal, for subsequent laboratory analysis.
The technique used to set up resonant modes of vibration was similar to that used for the
model except that, since the resonant frequencies were much lower (approximately l/lOOth
model frequency), the tower response was much slower and the whole process became much
more time consuming. Because of the difficulty of looking at very low frequency Lissajous’
138 P. E. WINNEY

displays, which are subject to only very gradual variations in response to changes in the
excitation, during the setting up procedure the acceleration response vectors were monitored
on a low frequency phase meter with a digital display of phase and amplitude. During mode
plotting the Deccom output was also compared with the force input by using the phase meter.
Because of the length of time needed to take a sufficient number of readings with the Deccom
to define a mode shape (about 4 h) the measurement of phase scatter (to check a modal
purity) was made at the same time.
At the end of each modal measurement, the excitation to the tower was terminated abruptly.
The resulting decay in the response vector from each accelerometer was recorded on a U.V.
recorder for subsequent analysis.

4. ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

4.1. RESPONSE OF FULL SCALE TOWER TO RANDOM EXCITATION
The resonant response to wind was restricted to a fairly narrow band of frequencies
starting at 1 Hz and dropping to very low levels above 2 Hz, and Figure 4 shows a power

Frequency (Hz)

Figure 4. PSD of acceleration response of tower 3s to wind; measured at A4.

spectral density (PSD) plot of the acceleration response of the tower to a 8.8 m/s wind from
the south-west, measured at position A4.
Measurement of the response to wind excitation was also seen as an opportunity to judge
whether the dynamic behaviour of tower 3s is representative of that of other, nominally
identical, towers. Accordingly, recordings were made of the wind induced responses of
towers 1S and 2S, in the same group, for comparison with tower 3s. This was done by using
the Deccom, which is not ideally suited for the measurement of random disturbances because
of its relatively low signal-to-noise ratio. Figures 5, 6 and 7 show PSD plots of the velocity
response of towers 1S, 2S and 2S, respectively. It was not possible to measure the responses
at the same point on each tower so it was not expected that the relative modal amplitudes
would be similar for each tower. Figures 5 and 6 suffer from the above mentioned poor
signal-to-noise ratio, compared to the integrated accelerometer output in Figure 7, but even
so it is possible to see a marked similarity in response frequencies between towers 2S and 3s.
Interpretation of Figure 5 is a little more difficult and, as will become clear later, the large
number of spectral peaks probably indicates the presence of complementary pairs of modes.
The response of the tower to a band limited (0.6 Hz to 30 Hz) white noise input disclosed
many more resonant frequencies in addition to those excited by the wind. In all, a total of
 VIBRATION OF COOLING TOWERS 139

I I I I I / I I I / J
I.0 I.1 I.2 I.3 I.4 I.5 I.6 I.7 I.8 I.9 2-o

Frequency (Hz)

Figure 5. PSD of velocity response of cooling tower IS to wind.

2.25 I , I , I , I 1 I

Frequency (Hz)
Figure 6. PSD of velocity response of cooling tower 2s to wind.

1.0 I.1 I.2 I.3 I.4 I.5 I.6 I.7 l-8 I.9 2.0

Frequency (Hz 1
Figure 7. PSD of velocity response of cooling tower 3S to wind.
140 P. E. WINNEY

about 30 resonant frequencies appeared between 1 Hz and 5 Hz. The lower six of these lay
between 1 Hz and 2 Hz and were similar to those excited by the wind.

4.2. FULL SCALE RESONANCE TESTS

Of the 30 resonance points indicated by the random noise input test described above, the
frequencies, mode shapes and associated dampings were accurately defined for the six lowest
frequencies. The next two modes were excited with some difficulty; frequency, damping and a
tentative suggestion for the mode shapes were obtained.
Figures 8 and 4 show the instantaneous modal displacements measured for the first six
modes, produced by the application of the sinusoidal forces listed in Table 1; the significance
of the numbering of the modes will become clear by comparison with model and theoretical
- --

Cor”‘
~~~~
ce-
1
Ground
3 L
Mode one -400 p’m contours

Mode two-400 pm contours

Mode three-200pn contours

Figure 8. Full scale tower mode shapes (1 to 3).

results. The mode shapes are displayed in the form of contour maps of the surface of the
cooling tower projected on to a developed cylinder (i.e., on axes of height and angular
displacement). The continuous contour lines are produced by interpolating between, typically,
250 measurements; the heavy lines correspond to the loci of the nodes. The magnitude and
phase of the velocity of the shell co-linear with the laser beam are measured, and the magni-
tude of the in-phase component normal to the shell is derived and integrated to give the
displacement. Although there is a significant deviation from the ideal displacement shape in
the cases of modes four and five, the modal characteristics (n/m-Figure 2) are clearly
recognizable and are listed in Table 2. The modes were each excited on many different
okasions and it was noticed that the orientation of the modal displacement pattern was
always the same, relative to the tower surface, for each mode. This effect persisted even when
positive efforts were made to excite a mode with a different orientation. It was during these
efforts that it was discovered that it was possible to excite complementary pairs of modes
 VIBRATIONOF COOLINGTOWERS 141
Cormce-

Mcdefour - 200 mm centaurs

Ground--+y ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’
Mode five -6M) mm contours

1200 lso’ 240° 300" 360"

Mode seven-400 mm contours

Figure 9. Full scale tower mode shapes (4, 5 and 7).

TABLE 1
Details of force inputs and responses for full scale resonance tests

Maximum
Mode Fl,t F2, displacement Receptance
no. (kN) (kN) (pm) (m/kN/“)

1 2.09 -0.8 2.16 -1.43 744 0.023

1A 435 -2.46 3.68 523 O*OlO
2 2.56 -5.27 1.86 7.16 1330 0.019
2A 4.87 -4.97 -3.56 -3.09 0.94 2646 0.036
3 4.16 2.68 3.19 -2.66 609 0.017
3A
ii;
:A (2)
5 -6.82 4.86 3.34 2.30 460 0.015
6 (2)
7 4.39 8.67 -8.0 822 0.008
8 340 7.70 0.70 -3.72 -3.46 1336 0.002

(1) Another mode was identified at a different measuring point but with the same force inputs (see Figure 10).
(2) Not known.
t Force inputs are of the form F= F,,,sin(wt + nn); where n is odd F,,,is shown with a negative sign.

having the same n/m characteristics but with the positions of their displacement patterns
differing by a quarter of a wave length (i.e., the nodes of one mode are coincident with the
anti-nodes of the other, and vice versa). These modes have slightly different frequencies and
it is clear that their existence, and the “locking on” of a mode to the shell, is due to asymmetric
142 P. E. WINNEY

TABLE 2
Frequencies and damping ratios of resonant modes of Didcot cooling tower 3s

Natural frequency (Hz) Damping ratio

I A \ < A \
Half
Mode Quad. Max. Max. Decay quad. Trans.
no. n/m only quad. total Mean curve amplifier HP BW vector Mean

1 412 1.062 1.062 1.062 1.062 O-0067 0.0072 0.0072 0.0071 0@071
IA 412 1.101 1.100 1.099 1.100 O+IO81 oGO95 0*0091 o-01 1 0.0094
2 512 1.161 1.161 1.162 1,161 OXtO78 0.0084 OX)083 0.0086 0.0083
2A 512 1.189 1.189 1.189 1.189 0.012 0.012 0.011 0.012
3 312 1.292 1.292 1.291 1.292 0.013 0.012 0.012 0.011 0.012
3A 312 (1) 1.31 1.31
4 613 1.396 1.397 1.396 1.396 0.0082 0.010 0.010 O-0088 0~0093
4A 613 1.423 1.423 1.424 1.423 0.010 0.010 0.012 0.011
5 713 1.618 1.622 1.625 1.622 0.013 0.017 0.012 0.012 0.014
6 (1) 1.679 1.679 (2)
7 813 1.978 1.978 1.977 1.978 O-0062 (3) 0+X)63 0.0063
8 913 2.315 2.314 2.313 2.314 0.014 0.013 0.013 0.011 o-01 3

(1) A further frequency was identified from a deviation in the vector plot (see Figures 10 and 11).
(2) Insufficient data points (see Figure 11).
(3) Very poor fit of circle to data points (see Figure 11).

Mode 2A
Aim

Mode 3 Mode 3 and 3A

Figure 10. Full scale tower vector plots (modes 1 to 3).

 VIBRATION OF COOLING TOWERS 143
Ah b Im

Re

Mode 4 Mode 413

A Im

Mode5
Arm
/*
./
/ .\ Mode 5 and 6

?Im

??

LL
‘t,
.i i.:
. : I
.
. :
?? Re
.

Mode 7 Mode 8

Figure 11. Full scale tower vector plots (modes 4 to 8).

properties of the shell giving rise to pairs of orthogonal planes of symmetry associated with
each mode shape. These asymmetries are due to shell imperfections, asymmetric geometry
and/or foundation irregularities. These modes are indicated by the subscript A to the mode
numbers in Figures 10 and 11 (which show the vector plots) and Tables 1 and 2.
The contour plots have not been reproduced for these modes since they are nominally
identical for each one of the complementary pair except for the orientation to the tower. It
was not possible in the case of modes 3 and 5 to produce explicit evidence of complementary
pairs by isolating and measuring them as in the case of modes I,2 and 4. However, the vector
plots for modes 3 and 5 seem to imply the existence of a complementary pair by their deviation
from circularity, although other evidence from model tests and theory indicate the possibility
of a further mode.
The natural frequencies and the damping ratios for each mode were measured from the
vector plots by using the methods outlined in Figure 3; these are listed in Table 2.
Owing to the difficulty of identifying the modal half-power band width or the half quad-
rature amplitude band width of mode 7 a linear relationship between phase and frequency of
response was derived, which enabled a measurement of damping to be made from the slope of
a straight line graph :
tan 4 = 25W~J/{1 - k4wY).
To test the correlation between this method and the others, the damping ratio of each mode
was derived in this way; the results are listed in Table 2 under the heading “Trans. vector”.
The agreement is good and some degree of confidence can be put in the estimate of 0.0063 for
mode 7.
144 P. E. WINNEY

I
1.15 I.16 I.17

Frequency (Hz)

Figure 12. Graphs showing positions of maximum frequency spacing mode 2.

Another technique that has been recommended for the identification of resonances and the
measurement of damping ratio is based on the criterion that the rate of change of phase of the
structural response with frequency reaches a maximum value at a resonance; this has been
called the maximum frequency spacing method by Pendered [14] and others. The method has
been credited by Pendered with being the most sensitive way of identifying modes with very
close natural frequencies; however, it suffers from inaccuracies in the measurement of phase.
If two or more vectors are measured at and around the quadrature condition, with a five-
degree phase difference between them, a typical 1% error in the phase measurement becomes
nearly 20 % in the calculation of rate of change of phase. Figure 12 shows graphs of rate of
change of phase against frequency for response vectors for mode 2, which are shown in
Figure 10. The upper graph incorporates all of the vectors, which are spaced at approximately
5” intervals, and seems to indicate the presence of four or five modes between 1*I55 Hz and
l-168 Hz. However, the double values at I.155 Hz and 1a16 Hz and the infinite result at
1.161 Hz give a clue to the fact that these apparent modal responses are really caused by errors
in the measurement of phase. If the data is smoothed by a “decimation” process whereby only
the circled points in Figure 10 are used, the lower graph in Figure 12 is the result. Although
this indicates a modal response at the reasonable value of 1a1605 Hz it is felt that there is no
justification, that has any physical significance, for the above decimation process. For this
reason the identification of natural frequency from the vector plots is considered to be
superior and the maximum frequency spacing method has not been used.
The decay curve obtained by abruptly terminating the excitation can be ideally represented
by an exponentially decaying cosine wave where the decay rate is a function of damping.
The maximum and minimum amplitudes from this data were measured from the U.V.records
and processed to produce a function representing the envelope of the decay curve, from which
 VIBRATION OF COOLING TOWERS 145

the damping ratio can be derived. These figures are listed in Table 2 in the column headed
“Decay curve“. The figures from this method and from the other methods described are in
good agreement and corroborate the values found for each mode; this is of especial value in
the case of mode 7 where the damping is surprisingly low and not many estimates are available.

4.3. RESPONSE OF MODEL COOLING TOWER TO RANDOM EXCITATION

For the sake of completeness the response of the model cooling tower to band limited white
noise between 20 Hz and 20 kHz was measured. A frequency analysis of the response showed
a very marked similarity to that of the full scale tower.

4.4. MODEL RESONANCE TESTS

Figures 13 and 14 show the instantaneous displacements of modes 1 to 7 for direct com-
parison with the full scale modes shown in Figures 8 and 9. For ease of comparison Table 3
restates the results from the full scale tests along with the model tests and values of frequency
and mode shape predicted for the model by the finite element program VACTIL, which is due
to Nelson and Thomas [2].
Comparisons between the n/m characteristics of the model and full scale tests show a
one-to-one relationship except in the case of mode 6. This has been identified from the model
tests as a 3/2 mode and has been detected in the full scale tests from the vector plot shown in
Figure 11. However, the mode shape could not be identified and it is interesting to note that it
has not been predicted by VACTIL, which otherwise shows remarkably good agreement.
The significance of the entries for the model mode 5 under the n/m column is that the charac-
teristics 7/3 and 5/3 were both indicated at different heights up the model (Figure 14).
The 8/3 characteristic indicated for the model and full scale for mode 7 is in disagreement
with the theory which predicts 8/2. It may be that the assumption that in-plane movement of

Cornice+

Ground d
Mode I
Ccmce 4

Ground +

Come -3

Ground +
0' 60' 120~ 180" 240' 300' 360'
Mode3

Figure 13. Model tower mode shapes (1 to 3).

 146 I’. E. WINNEY

Ground -
Mode 4

Corrm -

Ground -
Mode 5

Ground -
Mode 6

180” 240’ 300” 360°

Mode 7

Figure 14. Model tower mode shapes (4 to 7).

the shell is negligible compared to the normal movement may not be true and if this is the
case then the corrected Deccom measurements made at high angles of incidence could be in
error. Examination of the mode shape predicted by VACTIL for mode 7 does show some
significant in-plane motion which would give rise to an indicated characteristic of 813 when
the true mode shape is 8/2. However, this criticism is not true of the model measurements
which nevertheless indicate 813.
After having established a one-to-one relationship between model, full scale and pre-
dicted modes it is possible to compare resonant frequencies.
For comparison with the frequencies obtained from the full scale tests the model fre-
quencies have to be scaled. The expression

is used, where f, E and M are frequency, elastic modulus and mass density, respectively, and
the subscripts p and m refer to prototype (full scale) and model.
From core samples taken from the full scale tower,figures of E, = 29.5 x lo9 N m-’ and
M, = 2323 kg mm3 have been measured on the test machine described in reference [15],
giving E,/M, = 12,699x lo6 N m kg-‘. From laboratory measurements on the material used
in the model figures giving E,,,/M,,,= 2.548x lo6 N m kg-l have been obtained. With these
values in the above relationship, the figures in the column headed“Scale frequency” of Table 3
are obtained and can be used to compare the performance of the model with that of the full
scale tower. The agreement is better than +5*5 % and probably could not be improved unless
some attempt were made to model the foundation elasticity. The model foundation is con-
sidered to be perfectly rigid whilst it is possible to derive, from the pile driving records, a
figure of 1.6 x IO9 N m-l for the vertical stiffness of the full scale foundation.
 VIBRATIONOF COOLINGTOWERS 147

TABLE 3
Comparison between model, full scale and theory

Model Full scale tower Theory (VACTIL)

I * 7 Scale (-----*------, (-------*-,
Mode Frequency frequency Frequency Frequency
no. nlm (Hz) D.R. (Hz) n/m (Hz) D.R. n/m (Hz)

1 412 125 0.0088 1.112 412 1.062 0.0071 4/2 124.1

1A 1.10 0.0094
2 513 137 0.0111 1.22 5/2(l) 1-161 0.0083 513 133.3
2A 1.189 0.012
3 312 147 0.0123 1.313 312 1.292 0.012 312 150.2
3A 1.31
4 613 156 0.0155 1.393 613 1.396 0.0093 6/3 149.8
4A 1.423 0.011
5 713 + 5/3(2) 174 0.0161 1.554 713 1.622 0.014 713 175.1
513 182.1
6 312 180 0.0118 I.607 (3) 1.679 (4)
7 8/3 210 1.871 813 1.978 0.0063 8/2 206.7

(1) This is almost a “513” mode and just misses having a node at the cornice-see Figure 8.
(2) The response in this region is somewhat confused, probably due to modal interference.
(3) The n/m characteristic of this mode cannot be identified but the frequency ratio indicates the likelihood
of its being 312.
(4) No frequency is predicted for this mode,

Agreement between experimental and theoretical frequencies is also very good and is
discussed in the companion paper by Nelson and Thomas [2].
Finally, a comparison between values of damping ratio (columns headed “D.R.“) for
model and full scale can be made, and the agreement is very good with the exception of mode 4
which shows a 30 % error. This is thought to be of little importance since the study is primarily
concerned with wind excitation and the response of the fourth mode contributes a very minor
portion of the overall resonant stress.

5. CONCLUSIONS
A method, based on multi-point excitation and servo frequency control, of exciting resonant
modes of a large structure with a high modal density has been demonstrated. The method
yields results which are simply interpreted to give frequencies, damping ratios and displace-
ment functions of natural modes of vibration.
This technique, applied to a reinforced concrete cooling tower at Didcot Power Station, has
produced results which are in excellent agreement with complementary model and theoretical
studies.
The modelling technique, pioneered and adopted as standard wind tunnel practise by
Armitt [ 1J, has been fully vindicated by comparison with the full scale behaviour.

REFERENCES
1. J. ARMITT 1973 International Symposium Vibration Problems in Industry Paper No. 3 11 Vibration
of cooling towers.
2. R. L. NELSON and D. L. THOMAS 1978 Journal ofSoundand Vibration 57,149-153. Free vibration
analysis of cooling towers with column supports.
3. T. J. DER, R. FIDLER, J. J. WILLIAMS and Y. C. WONG 1967 Central Electricity Research Lab-
oratories Report No. RDILIR1442. Structural studies in connection with the failure of the
Ferrybridge “C” cooling towers.
148 P. E. WINNEY

4. H. L. BURROUGH,A. P. JEARYand P. E. WINNEY1970 Central Electricity Research Laboratories

Note No. RDILIN 144170.
5. H. L. BURROUGH,H. KINL~CK and P. E. WINNEY1971 in Dymanic Waves in Civil Engineering,
449-461. New York: John Wiley and Sons. Vibration studies on full scale structures.
6. J. J. WILLIAMS1967 Central Electricity Research Laboratories Note No. RDILIR1418.
7. R. W. TRAILL-NASH1958 Journal of Aeronautical Science 25,775-778. On the excitation of pure
material modes in aircraft testing.
8. I. A. SINGER, N. E. BUSCH and J. A. FRIZZOLA 1967 Conference on Wind Loads on Buildings,
Paper 21. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
9. H. A. PANOFSKY1969, A.G.A.R.D. CP48. The structure of atmospheric shear flows-review.
10. J. C. KAIMAL,J. C. WYNGAARD,Y. IZUMI and 0. R. COTE 1972 Quarterly Journal of the Royal
Meteorological Society 98, 563-589. Spectral characteristics of surface layer turbulence.
11. G. A. TAYLOR,D. R. GAUKR~GERand C. W. SKINGLE1969 Aeronautical Research Council R &M,
3590. Mama-a semi-automatic technique for exciting the principal modes of vibration of
complex structures.
12. H. AVSEC 1970 Laser Instrument for the Measurement of Small Vibrations. Hersham, Surrey:
Decca Radar Ltd., Lyon Road.
13. H. L. BURROUGH,J. DAVIS and P. E. WINNEY 1972 Central Electricity Research Laboratories
Note No. RD/LIN 286172. Full scale resonance tests on cooling tower 3s at Didcot P.S. Part I;
Description of experiment.
14. J. W. PENDERED1965 Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science 7, 372-379. Theoretical investi-
gation into the effects of close natural frequencies in resonance testing.
15. R. R. ASHBEE,C. A. R. HERITAGEand R. W. JORDAN1976 Magazine of Concrete Research 28,
148-156. The expanded hysteresis loop method for measuring damping.