To investigate the wind-induced vibration of a single-axis solar tracker, this study employs a combination of rigid model pressure measurement wind tunnel tests and finite element calculations. This study addresses the critical gap of full-array wind-induced response analysis and provides region-specific dynamic amplification factor recommendations applicable to comparable tracker configurations. The wind load distribution on the solar tracker surface is obtained through rigid model pressure measurement tests; the natural frequency and mode of the solar tracker are determined via finite element calculations; and the wind-induced response of the solar tracker is computed by integrating the wind load and its self-vibration characteristics. At small tilt angles, a shielding effect is observed, with the wake region exhibiting a lower standard deviation of the torque coefficient than the windward region, whereas at large tilt angles, an amplification effect is observed, with the wake region exhibiting a higher standard deviation. The wind-induced vibration of the solar tracker is predominantly characterized by torsional vibration around the main axis, with larger torsional displacements observed in the end regions and the area between the two drive posts. Furthermore, recommended dynamic amplification factors are provided: 2.07~2.41 for the corner regions, 1.85~1.92 for the mid-span regions, and 1.98~2.23 for the end regions.

Single-axis solar tracker arrays are commonly installed within the lower atmospheric boundary layer. Their wind loads are governed not only by the module tilt angle, row-to-row sheltering and wind-direction angle but also by the inflow turbulence intensity. To clarify the variation in PV array wind loads under different turbulent environments, large-eddy simulation (LES) was used to investigate the mean pressure coefficient, the standard deviation pressure coefficient and the flow field of a multi-row tracker array subjected to three inflow turbulence intensities. The model scale was 1:240, with a chord length C = 0.02 m, a ground clearance h = 0.0375 m and a row spacing of 0.047 m. The target turbulent inflow was generated in ANSYS Fluent using the narrowband synthesis random flow generation (NSRFG) method, and the inlet spectra, mean-velocity profile and turbulence-intensity profile were verified in an empty domain. Turbulence intensity had a limited overall effect on the mean pressure coefficient but slightly increased its chordwise non-uniformity. In contrast, it markedly increased the standard deviation of the wind pressure coefficient while making its chordwise distribution more uniform. The outer trackers showed greater non-uniformity in both the mean pressure coefficient and the standard deviation pressure coefficient than the inner trackers. Increasing the module tilt angle strengthened the sheltering effect on standard deviation wind loads. Oblique wind weakened the sheltering effect but generally produced greater mean wind loads and wind load standard deviations at the leeward-end modules. Instantaneous vorticity fields showed that a high turbulence intensity weakened periodic vortex shedding behind the modules. These results provide a basis for evaluating the combined effects of the turbulence intensity, tilt angle and wind-direction angle in the wind-resistant design of PV trackers.