Seismic performance analysis of double electrical equipment system connected by flexible conductors

Abstract

Structural characteristics of electrical equipment are influenced by connected flexible conductors. In order to study the seismic performance of the double electrical equipment system (DEES) with flexible conductors, a simplified modeling method of the DEES with flexible conductors was proposed in this paper. The refined finite element model of the DEES with flexible conductors was established using ANSYS software. Its seismic response level was analyzed and compared with that of the standalone equipment. Besides, the impact of ground motion input was also investigated. The results show that the first two modal frequencies of the DEES will be reduced by the flexible conductor. The flexible conductor can reduce the seismic responses of the low-frequency equipment in the DEES, while it increases seismic responses of the high-frequency equipment. When the slack of the flexible busbar is greater than a critical value, the additional pulling force on the top of the equipment caused by the busbar can be kept at a low level, which is also related to the ground motion input.