Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE A
ISSN 1673-565X(Print), 1862-1775(Online), Monthly

2009   Vol. 10   No. 11   p. 1573~1580

Wind-induced response analysis of a wind turbine tower including the blade-tower coupling effect

Xiao-bo CHEN¹, Jing LI¹, Jian-yun CHEN^†‡1,2

(¹School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China)
(²State Key Laboratory of Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China)
^‡ Corresponding Author
^†E-mail: eerd001@dlut.edu.cn
Received Oct. 28, 2008; revision accepted Jan. 5, 2009; Crosschecked Sept. 10, 2009

Abstract: To analyze wind-induced response characteristics of a wind turbine tower more accurately, the blade-tower coupling effect was investigated. The mean wind velocity of the rotating blades and tower was simulated according to wind shear effects, and the fluctuating wind velocity time series of the wind turbine were simulated by a harmony superposition method. A dynamic finite element method (FEM) was used to calculate the wind-induced response of the blades and tower. Wind-induced responses of the tower were calculated in two cases (one included the blade-tower coupling effect, and the other only added the mass of blades and the hub at the top of the tower), and then the maximal displacements at the top of the tower of the tow cases were compared with each other. As a result of the influence of the blade-tower coupling effect and the total base shear of the blades, the maximal displacement of the first case increased nearly by 300% compared to the second case. To obtain more precise analysis, the blade-tower coupling effect and the total base shear of the blades should be considered simultaneously in the design of wind turbine towers.

Key words: Fluctuating wind velocity, Mean wind velocity, Tower, Blade, Coupling, Wind shear effect, Vibration
doi:10.1631/jzus.A0820750             CLC number: TU311.3; TK8

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