Blade model comparison based on static and modal test scenarios

Abstract

Wind turbine rotors are getting larger in diameter to increase the output of a single turbine and reduce the cost of energy production. The increase in size leads to complex structure-mechanical effects that have to be considered in order to design the wind turbine blade in a reasonable way. Currently many models exist that are able to represent these effects. Usually, a compromise between accuracy and simulation speed has to be made. The analysis of a wind rotor blade is divided into two parts. The turbine simulation and the detailed analysis. Modally reduced models or beam model descriptions are used in aeroelastic turbine simulations for load calculations and pre-design. The final sizing takes place in a more detailed finite element model. Depending on the application, the models differ in complexity, which ultimately affects the computational effort of their solution.