THE TOPPLING OF AN IRRIGATION CENTER PIVOT SUBMITTED TO WIND ACTION EFFECTS

ABSTRACT This research aims to improve the study about the stability of truss structures used in pivot irrigation, widely used due to the growing demand for food production, when submitted to wind effects. Specifically, it aims to verify the maximum wind speed supported by an irrigation center pivot structure when submitted to the load effects caused by wind gusts perpendicular to the equipment. In order to determine these forces and their effects on the irrigation equipment, computational numerical investigations were carried out using finite element bar models validated by measuring the natu...