Collapse-resistant performance of super-large cooling towers subjected to seismic actions

•Shaking table test was conducted on a scaled super-large cooling tower.•Collapse processes of super-large cooling towers were modelled.•Super-lager cooling towers subjected to earthquakes collapsed aslant overall.•Columns were the weakest part of super-large cooling towers.

In this paper, a shaking table test was conducted on a 1/55 scaled reinforced concrete super-large cooling tower. Structural dynamic responses corresponding to different levels of seismic actions were measured and analysed. The structural weakness, collapse mode and failure mechanism were investigated. A numerical model was also developed for elasto-plastic time history analysis of the prototype tower. It was found that the columns were the weakest part of the tower. The acceleration and displacement responses at the top of the columns increased most as the peak ground accelerations increased. Under strong-motion earthquake actions, the tower lost support after the columns failed and collapsed aslant overall. The research presented in this paper can contribute to the improved design of future cooling towers.