## 5 Conclusions  
To investigate the causes of deformation in photovoltaic supports and ensure the safety and durability of photovoltaic structures, a detailed analysis was conducted on the loads borne by the supports and the joint connection forms. Using ABAQUS, the causes of damage in photovoltaic supports were analyzed, and the innovative joint connection of the purlin hanger and brace was proposed. The main conclusions are as follows:  
1. Significant differences in wind load calculations for photovoltaic supports arise from variations in the partial coefficients and load action modes between different design codes. The maximum stress calculated using Chinese codes was less than 82% of that obtained with American codes and Eurocodes, indicating a less conservative approach.
2. The on-site damage observations and finite element analysis results both demonstrated that using two bolts to connect the beam and purlin at the purlin hanger position  
Figure 19: Comparison of deformation of different models.  
Figure 18: Analysis results for A3L[.  
is unreliable. The node connection must be strengthened with at least three bolts recommended to secure the purlin hangers.
3. Thin-walled circular pipes used as braces for photovoltaic supports can lead to further deformation in the joint connection due to the reduced stiffness of their flattened ends when beam deformation occurs as a result of purlin hanger displacement. Z-shaped and \(\Pi\)-shaped purlin brackets are recommended for connecting beams and purlin, as they reduce purlin bracket deformation while preventing excessive stress in L-shaped purlin brackets. C-shaped steel is recommended for use as the support material, offering ease of construction and enhanced safety and reliability. The newly proposed joint connection results in minimal additional steel usage.  
Conceptualization, D.Z. and X.H.; methodology, J.L. and R.W.; software, D.Z.; validation, J.L.; formal analysis, R.W.; investigation, X.H.; resources, X.H.; data curation, J.L.; writing--original draft preparation, D.Z.; writing--review and editing, J.L.; visualization, R.W.; super-vision, X.H.; project administration, R.W.; funding acquisition, D.Z. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This study was supported by the Youth Research Fund of China Academy of Building Research (Grant Number: 20220112331030029).  
Not applicable.  
The data that support the findings of this study are not publicly available but can be made available on request from the corresponding author.  
The author expresses sincere gratitude to the China Academy of Building Research for its invaluable support throughout this study. We are particularly thankful for the provision of the research objectives, venues, and funding, all of which are very important for our research.  
Authors [PERSON] and [PERSON] were employed by the company China Academy of Building Research Co., Ltd. Author [PERSON] was employed by the company CABR Testing Center Co., Ltd. Author [PERSON] was employed by the company China Institute of Building Standard Design & Research. All the authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.