Objective The large-span flexible photovoltaic support array, characterized by its lightweight and low fundamental frequency, is a typical wind-sensitive structure. These structures are highly vulnerable to damage caused by low-frequency resonance or instability-induced flutter under wind uplift. Currently, there is a lack of systematic research on the design and effectiveness of wind suction resistance devices in design codes and engineering practices.

Method A nine-row, five-span flexible photovoltaic (PV) array in an integrated fishery and PV power generation demonstration project was taken as the research object, and a scheme of arranging V-shaped wind suction resistance devices at intervals on the windward side under 180° wind direction was proposed. Subsequently, a full-scale computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model and a refined finite element model of the PV support array were established to analyze load distribution and dynamic responses. Meanwhile, the variation patterns of wind-induced structural responses and interference effects were explored, and based on different response objectives, the influence of wind suction resistance devices on the distribution of wind response coefficients under typical wind directions was analyzed.

Result The results show that the wind suction resistance devices reduce the fundamental frequency of the structure from 1.979 Hz to 1.849 Hz. Their influence on the structural response under 0° wind direction is negligible, with the extreme mid-span vertical displacement only slightly increasing from 0.225 m to 0.255 m and the extreme internal force remaining essentially unchanged. In addition, under 0° wind direction, the devices have little impact on the displacement wind response coefficient but reduces the internal force wind response coefficient from 2.11 to 1.51. Under 180° wind direction, due to the significant reduction in average displacement, the rear-row displacement wind response coefficient increases sharply, while the internal force wind response coefficient shows no obvious variation. On the contrary, under this condition, the devices can significantly reduce the mid-span vertical displacement by 69.83% (from 0.232 m to 0.070 m) and decrease the extreme internal force from 14.79 MPa to 12.41 MPa.

Conclusion This study significantly improves the reliability of the structure against wind uplift.