Wind-Induced Vibration Characteristics of a Novel Four-Cable-Supported Photovoltaic Structure Based on Wind Tunnel Test

This paper presents a comprehensive wind tunnel investigation on the wind-induced vibration characteristics of a novel four-cable-supported photovoltaic (PV) structure. The proposed structure system integrates two adjacent dual-cable rows through rigid connecting rods to form a collaborative load-bearing framework, aiming to enhance overall stiffness and mitigate wind-induced vibrations. A 1:15-scale aeroelastic model was tested in a boundary-layer wind tunnel for both single-row and five-row configurations. Wind-induced displacements were measured using a non-contact high-definition camera system capable of real-time, multi-point monitoring across multiple rows, while cable tension forces were simultaneously recorded with load cells—a combined measurement approach rarely reported in existing studies. The effects of wind speed and wind direction angle on the vibration responses were systematically examined. Results reveal that vertical vibrations dominate, with mid-span displacements reaching maximum values. The shielding effect among multiple rows is pronounced: the windward first row consistently exhibits the largest displacements and cable forces under both wind pressure and suction. Wind directions of 0° and 180° are identified as the most unfavorable for pressure and suction, respectively. Cable forces under pressure exceed those under suction, and within each row, windward cables sustain greater forces than leeward cables. These findings provide essential experimental reference data for the wind-resistant design of multi-row cable-supported PV support structures.