Nonlinear Dynamics and Instability as Important Design Concerns for a Guyed Mast

This paper analyses the static and dynamic buckling behavior of a simplified 2-DOF model of a cable stayed tower with emphasis on the safety of the pre-buckling solutions whose stability must be preserved for a safe design. First, the influence of the inherent symmetries of the model on the buckling loads and the post-buckling paths emerging from the bifurcation point is investigated. Then, a global dynamic analysis is conducted to investigate the degree of safety of the static pre-buckling solution. To understand the behavior of the guyed mast in a dynamic environment, a base excitation is considered and the influence of its direction on the escape stability boundary in the force control space is studied. Finally, the erosion and integrity of the basins of attraction of the stable solutions are investigated. The paper shows how the tools of nonlinear dynamics can help in the understanding of the global safety and integrity of the model, thus leading to a safe structural design.