Abstract:Based on a novel, nonlinear material constitutive model of angle steel, the collapse mechanism of transmission towers subjected to multi-dimensional seismic excitation was simulated in this paper. Buckling capacities of angle steels with different slenderness ratios were investigated by the RIKS algorithm in ABAQUS, and the finite element analysis results were verified by bearing capacity tests. Based on the hysteretic property test results, a new nonlinear material constitutive model of angle steel was developed and verified using Fortran programming language. A three-dimensional finite element model of the transmission tower was then established, and collapse of the transmission tower under multi-dimensional seismic excitation was simulated. Ultimate bearing capacity, buckling of members, and collapse locations of the transmission tower were investigated by dynamic explicit analysis. Research results can provide a theoretical guidance for the seismic design of transmission towers under multi-dimensional seismic excitation.