FEM Model Generation
TowerPlot converts your tower definition into a structural finite element model automatically.
Model Properties
| Property | Implementation |
|---|---|
| Element type | 3D frame/truss hybrid — legs modeled as continuous beams (6 DOF, moment+shear+axial), diagonals and horizontals as pinned elements (axial only) |
| DOF per node | 6 (3 translations + 3 rotations) |
| Stiffness matrix | Direct stiffness method |
| Boundary conditions | Fixed base (all 6 DOF restrained at ground) |
| Node deduplication | Shared nodes between adjacent sections |
| Load application | Distributed wind forces → equivalent nodal forces |
Model Size
Model size scales with tower complexity:
| Tower | Approximate Nodes | Approximate Elements |
|---|---|---|
| 30m triangular, 5 sections | ~100 | ~250 |
| 54m triangular, 9 sections | ~200 | ~500 |
| 80m square, 15 sections | ~500 | ~1,500 |
How It Works
- Section Builder — generates local node coordinates and element connectivity for each section based on geometry and bracing pattern
- Tower Assembly — stacks sections, deduplicates shared nodes at section interfaces, assigns global IDs
- Load Application — distributes EPA-based wind forces to nodes as concentrated loads
- Boundary Conditions — fixed base (all 6 DOF restrained) at all base nodes
- Stiffness Assembly — builds global stiffness matrix K from element contributions
- Solve — K × u = F → solve for nodal displacements u, then back-calculate element forces