Beamlike models for the analyses of curved, twisted and tapered horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT) blades undergoing large displacements

Abstract

Abstract. Continuous ongoing efforts to better predict the mechanical behaviour of complex beamlike structures, such as wind turbine blades, are motivated by the need to improve their performance and reduce the costs. However, new design approaches and the increasing flexibility of such structures make their aeroelastic modelling ever more challenging. For the structural part of this modelling, the best compromise between computational efficiency and accuracy can be obtained via schematizations based on suitable beamlike elements. This paper addresses the modelling of the mechanical behaviour of beamlike structures which are curved, twisted and tapered in their unstressed state and undergo large displacements, in- and out-of-plane cross-sectional warping, and small strains. A suitable model for the problem at hand is proposed. Analytical and numerical results obtained by its application are presented and compared with results from 3D FEM analyses.

Rotor blades as curved, twisted and tapered beam-like structures subjected to large deflections

“…The model should provide the stress and strain fields in the three-dimensional solid, be rigorous and application-oriented, and provide classical results when applied to prismatic cases. Following these guidelines, a mathematical model to simulate the mechanical behaviour of the aforementioned structures is proposed in this work, which also extends the results of a previous work (see, for example, [22]). Specifically, a modelling approach for non-prismatic beam-like structures, undergoing large deflections, 3D cross-sectional warping and small strain, is introduced in section 2.…”

A new shear formula for tapered beamlike solids undergoing large displacements

“…In general, 3D-BLM can provide several meaningful information about the mechanical response of a beam, including, for example, centre-line displacements, curvature changes, triad rotations, stress and strain fields, and stress resultants, as shown in previous works (e.g. [8,34,40,41]). In this paper the focus is on the shear formula introduced in section 4 and the agreement among its results with those of nonlinear 3D-FEM simulations.…”

Analytical determination of the influence of geometric and material design parameters on the stress and strain fields in non-prismatic components of wind turbines

“…The wind energy sector is playing a key role in decarbonising the overall power sector, but crucial to its continuous growth is the economic viability and reliability of installations, as well as an improved understanding of the mechanical behavior of the wind turbines [1]. The design of such structures is in fact now based on well-established compromises between structural and aerodynamic engineering and several numerical tools and scientific works are available (see [2][3][4], e.g. ), but there are still challenges to be addressed that regard the influence of (geometric and material) design parameters on the state of stress and strain of their components.…”