Citation: Cucuzza, R.; Rosso, M.M.;
Aloisio, A.; Melchiorre, J.; Lo Giudice,
M.; Marano, G.C. Size and Shape
Optimization of a Guyed Mast
Structure under Wind, Ice and
Seismic Loading. Appl. Sci. 2022, 12,
4875. https://doi.org/10.3390/
app12104875
Academic Editors: Nikos D. Lagaros
and Vagelis Plevris
Received: 17 April 2022
Accepted: 9 May 2022
Published: 11 May 2022
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Article
Size and Shape Optimization of a Guyed Mast Structure under
Wind, Ice and Seismic Loading
Raffaele Cucuzza
1
, Marco Martino Rosso
1
, Angelo Aloisio
2,
* , Jonathan Melchiorre
1
, Mario Lo Giudice
1
and Giuseppe Carlo Marano
1
1
Department of Structural, Geotechnical and Building Engineering, Politecnico di Torino,
Corso Duca Degli Abruzzi, 24, 10128 Turin, Italy; raffaele.cucuzza@polito.it (R.C.);
marco.rosso@polito.it (M.M.R.); jonathan.melchiorre@polito.it (J.M.); logiudice.mario@polito.it (M.L.G.);
giuseppe.marano@polito.it (G.C.M.)
2
Civil Environmental and Architectural Engineering Department, Università Degli Studi dell’Aquila,
via Giovanni Gronchi n.18, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
* Correspondence: angelo.aloisio1@univaq.it
Abstract:
This paper discusses the size and shape optimization of a guyed radio mast for radio-
communications. The considered structure represents a widely industrial solution due to the recent
spread of 5G and 6G mobile networks. The guyed radio mast was modeled with the finite element
software SAP2000 and optimized through a genetic optimization algorithm (GA). The optimization
exploits the open application programming interfaces (OAPI) SAP2000-Matlab. Static and dynamic
analyses were carried out to provide realistic design scenarios of the mast structure. The authors
considered the action of wind, ice, and seismic loads as variable loads. A parametric study on the
most critical design variables includes several optimization scenarios to minimize the structure’s total
self-weight by varying the most relevant parameters selected by a preliminary sensitivity analysis. In
conclusion, final design considerations are discussed by highlighting the best optimization scenario
in terms of the objective function and the number of parameters involved in the analysis.
Keywords: guyed mast; structural optimization; genetic algorithm; structural design
1. Introduction
Guyed masts are extensively used in the telecommunications industry, and the
size, shape, and topology optimization can significantly benefit their transportation and
installation. The main loads acting on guyed mast structures arise from wind [
1
,
2
],
earthquakes [3–6]
, sudden rupture of guys [
7
], galloping of guys [
8
], and sudden ice
shedding from ice-laden guy wires [9].
Their optimization must fulfil several requirements under ultimate and service limit
states [
10
]. Specifically, service limit states are crucial for guyed mast structures due to high-
amplitude oscillations caused by their high deformability. In some cases, these vibrations
have led to a signal loss caused by excessive displacement and rotation of the antennas
and, in other cases, have resulted in permanent deformation or failure. Therefore, size
optimization of the guyed mast structure represents a challenging task since the increment
of the performance ratio of the materials should be counterbalanced by an adequate lateral
stiffness to reduce high-vibration drawbacks [11].
Saxena [
12
] reported several happenings where heavy icing combined with moderate
wind resulted in severe misalignment of towers and complete failure. Novak et al. [
13
]
showed that ice accumulation on some parts of the guy wires and moderate winds could
lead to the guy galloping, resulting in unacceptable stress levels throughout the structure.
The main topics investigated in the field of guyed structures can be summarized as follows:
•
Structural design. Several researchers investigated the dynamic response of guyed
mast structures through experimental tests and numerical modeling to derive design
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12, 4875. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12104875 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci
