Numerical Stress Analysis of Mounting Structures for Rooftop Solar Panels in Public Buildings
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.38032/jea.2025.04.005Keywords:
Finite Element Analysis, Monte Carlo Simulation, Rooftop PV, Structural Safety, Sobol Sensitivity, Mesh Analysis, ANSYS, Wind LoadAbstract
The structural reliability of rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) panel mounting systems is critical for ensuring both safety and long-term functionality, especially in the context of developing countries like Nigeria. This study introduces a novel hybrid numerical framework that combines deterministic Finite Element Analysis (FEA) with probabilistic Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) to evaluate the mechanical performance of rooftop PV systems installed on public buildings. The originality of this work lies in its integration of stochastic environmental variability and probabilistic failure prediction often overlooked in conventional design practice with a localized case study in Akure, Nigeria. The study examines 24 monocrystalline PV modules mounted on aluminium rail structures under varying environmental conditions such as wind load, temperature, and installation deviation. Results indicate a 21.44% probability of structural failure when the safety factor falls below 1.5, with wind speed and installation variability being the most influential parameters according to a Sobol-based sensitivity analysis. Experimental wind tunnel tests using strain gauges validate the simulation, with less than 10% deviation. The findings present a data-driven methodology to inform context-specific structural standards and safety margins for rooftop PV installations in sub-Saharan Africa and similar environments.
References
[1] Mubarak, A. and Hyder, M.J., 2023. Experimental and Computational Analysis of 14 Gauge Rooftop Solar PV Mounting Structure against Wind in Pakistan. Engineering Proceedings, 45(1), p.14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2023045014
[2] Akinboro, F.G., Adejumobi, L.A. and Makinde, V., 2012. Solar energy installation in Nigeria: Observations, prospect, problems and solution. Transnational Journal of Science and Technology, 2(4), pp.73-84.
[3] Duan, J., He, Y., Sun, X., Yu, H., Zhang, Y. and Zhang, Y., 2025. Design and comprehensive assessment of roof photovoltaic retrofits for existing buildings. Solar Energy, 288, p.113280. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2025.113280
[4] Alves, J.L., Palha, R.P. and de Almeida Filho, A.T., 2025. BIM-Based Framework for Photovoltaic Systems: Advancing Technologies, Overcoming Challenges, and Enhancing Sustainable Building Performance. Sustainability, 17(8), p.3695. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su17083695
[5] Ethan, M., Finite Element Analysis of Load-Bearing Components in a SolidWorks-Modeled Solar Tracking System for Harsh Environmental Conditions.
[6] Ren, H., Liu, H., Ke, S., Tian, W., Zhang, C., Qin, Y., Weng, S. and Li, H., 2025. Prediction of wind pressure distribution on long-span flexible photovoltaic arrays using windward first row data and deep learning. Solar Energy, 298, p.113671. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2025.113671
[7] Elba, H., Hegazy, H., Zhang, J., Mahdi, I.M., Abdel Rashid, I. and Hassan, H.M., 2025. Optimizing steel structures for solar panels: integrating artificial intelligence and web-based Decision support systems for enhanced efficiency and sustainability. Innovative Infrastructure Solutions, 10(1), pp.1-22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-024-01831-9
[8] Debnath, K., Hsieh, C.C., Huang, C.Y. and Kuo, C.F.J., 2025. Numerical and experimental analysis of aerodynamic forces on floating photovoltaic systems: Insights into design optimization and economic feasibility. Results in Engineering, 25, p.104435. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2025.104435
[9] Drobyshev, G., 2025. Design of the solar panel mounting system.
[10] YEMENİCİ, O. and ORUÇ, E., 2025. Aerodynamic and structural analysis of a solar panel. International Journal of Simulation Modelling, 24(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.2507/IJSIMM24-2-709
[11] Nair, A.N.B., Pagamonci, L., Xie, S. and Sadique, J., 2025, March. Dynamics of a floating solar array subjected to wave and wind loads using coupled cfd-multi body dynamics simulations. In SNAME Offshore Symposium (p. D011S002R002). SNAME. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5957/TOS-2025-002
[12] Debnath, K., Barman, J., Hsieh, C.C., Huang, C.Y., Juang, R.C., Chiu, C.W. and Kuo, C.F.J., 2025. Wind pressure characterization on ground-mounted solar PV systems: A combined experimental and numerical study. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, p.106501. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2025.106501
[13] Iturralde Carrera, L.A., Díaz-Tato, L., Constantino-Robles, C.D., Garcia-Barajas, M.G., Zapatero-Gutiérrez, A., Álvarez-Alvarado, J.M. and Rodríguez-Reséndiz, J., 2025. Advances in Mounting Structures for Photovoltaic Systems: Sustainable Materials and Efficient Design. Technologies, 13(5), p.204. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13050204
[14] Espinoza, G.M., Kagan, N., Rosa, L.H., Lourenço, L.F., Monaro, R.M., Almeida, C.F., Salles, M.B., Martins, L., Crispino, F. and Cebrian, J.C., 2025. A Stochastic Methodology for PV System Allocation in Power Distribution Networks. RE&PQJ, 23(4), pp.80-85. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52152/4554
[15] Agarwal, A., Irtaza, H. and Ahmad, M.J., 2021. Numerical analysis of the ground-mounted solar PV panel array mounting systems subjected to basic wind for optimum design. Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 48(6), pp.656-668. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/cjce-2019-0280
[16] Al-Rawi, M., Rajan, N., Anand, S.S., Pauly, T. and Thomas, N., 2022. Prototyping roof mounts for photovoltaic (PV) panels: Design, construction and CFD validation. CFD Letters, 14(2), pp.59-71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37934/cfdl.14.2.5971
Downloads
Published
Data Availability Statement
Data will be made available on request.
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Adekunle Adefela, Sunday Ojo Oluwatoki
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All the articles published by this journal are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
