Windsfeld wind measuring mast

The basis for Salzburg’s first wind farm

Everyone is currently talking about the Windsfeld wind power project in the Salzburg mountains. But before the wind power project can even be planned and executed, the actual wind strength and potential of Windsfeld had to be identified. For this purpose, a 100m (!) high wind measuring mast was to be erected at 2,100 meters above sea level.
“Structures with a height of 100m, and that too at 2,100 meters above sea level, don’t happen very often.”
Thus, the request to provide the structural analysis for a tower of this height and location was a very exciting one, which we were happy to carry out.

On the part of the client and the building owner, the goals were already very clearly defined and the basic planning of the technical equipment of the tower and the requirements for the statics were clear. Together with the metal construction company Gruber-Hofer from Altenmarkt, the system for the tower was developed in order to harmonize manufacturing and statics even before the actual calculation. From our side, the ZT office DI Stallinger Johann+Partner from Upper Austria was also commissioned with the accompanying examination of the statics. The basis for this was to compare internal forces and design from independent software solutions (RFEM and SCIA). The real challenge then really began with the planning and calculation of the execution details.

An assembly by means of industry Ketterer and helicopter had to be ensured. The prestressing forces of the ropes were determined and the details adjusted accordingly. In this regard, the guy points were designed so that the rope forces could be monitored during installation.

During the assembly in autumn 2020, the complete team of m3-ZT GmbH was there (Matthias, Christoph, Stefan and Nikolaus) and helped to assemble the tower. For this opportunity we would like to thank again and express our fullest respect to the pilot and the mechanics at the tower for the work at this incredible height.

Technical data:
Height: 100m
Location: in the area of the peak “Windsfeld” in Flachau / Flachauwinkl at an altitude of about 2100m above sea level.
Measurement period: approx. 1 ½ years
Total steel weight: approx. 12t
Measured for an average wind speed v_(b,0)=31m/sec (according to expert opinion ZAMG)
Lattice mast construction with a ground plan radius of 75cm
Every 10m braced by means of wire ropes Ø12-Ø19 on three sides