An advanced aeroelastic model for horizontal axis wind turbines
by
Florin Frunzulica
POLITEHNICA University Bucharest, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Department of Aerospace Sciences “Elie Carafoli”
Coauthors: Horia Dumitrescu

In this paper an advanced aeroelastic numerical tool for horizontal axis wind turbines is presented. The tool is created by coupling an unsteady aerodynamic model based on the lifting-line approximation with an elastodynamic model based on the beam approximation. The coupling is non-linear in the sense that at every time step the two models interact through data transfer from the one to the other. Two interfaces assure a constant communication between the two parts of the complete model. The aero-to-elastic interface defines the loads exercised on the structure, whereas the elastic-to-aero interface transmits the rates of deformations. The aeroelastic model is evaluated through comparisons of its predictions with experimental data as well as with predictions obtained by simpler models.

Date received: April 15, 2008