Abstract: With ANSYS finite element software, a 2D finite element model of towerbase was developed to study the deformation characteristic of transmissiontowerbase and foundation based on coupled thermalstructural analysis by simulating the extreme low temperatures. In the simulation, constant load was applied on the transmissiontowerbase, which was the actual biggest load transmissiontowerbase experience in the extreme snow and ice conditions in Southern China in 2008, then the temperature was changed to four different conditions. The simulated results show that: because of frost heaving of soilrock mass, the towerbase has a little upheaval, when surface temperature is below zero.  With lowering of the surface temperature, the degree of upheaval increases. Stress concentration appears around the foundation base, with the biggest shear stress at the outside of the right towerbase. Therefore, the biggest vertical displacement occurs at outside of the right towerbase and the smallest occurs at outside of the left towerbase. The horizontal displacement of towerbase changes is also obvious with a potential sliding surface formed.

Key words: Coupled Thermalstructural Analysis, Towerbases, Deformation Characteristics, Finite Element analyses