Experimental Seismic Response of High-Voltage Transformer-Bushing Systems

Abstract

This paper describes the shake table testing of a full-scale high-voltage electrical transformer-bushing system. The main objective of the study was to investigate the amplification between the ground motion and the motion at the base of the bushing under various ground-motion time histories and intensities. Another objective of the testing was to assess the predictions of a three-dimensional finite-element model of the transformer-bushing system. The experimental results obtained indicated that the rocking motion of the bushing and turret, facilitated by the top plate flexibility of the transformer, influenced significantly the dynamic characteristics of the bushing. The finite element model was able to predict absolute accelerations, relative displacements, and stress distributions in the systems with reasonable accuracy considering its complexity.