Initial structural response measurements for the Sandia 34-meter VAWT (vertical axis wind turbine) Test Bed

Conference · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6629017

Ashwill, T D

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) has designed and constructed a 34-meter diameter vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) Test Bed. The machine will be used to advance research in aerodynamics and structural dynamics, improve fatigue life prediction capabilities, and investigate control algorithms and systems concepts. The Test Bed has extensive instrumentation including 70 strain gauges to measure blade and tower response. Immediately after the blades were mounted, blade gravity stresses were measured and a modal analysis on the stationary rotor was performed to determine zero rpm modal frequencies. Assembly and start-up tests have been completed, and testing is in the machine characterization phase. Resonance surveys are underway to fully characterize the modal frequencies and mode shapes of the rotor, drive train and support cables. Measured gravity stresses, centrifugal stresses, and modal frequencies are compared to predicted values. 11 refs., 12 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6629017
• Report Number(s): SAND-88-0633C; CONF-890102-6; ON: DE89003133
• Resource Relation: Conference: ASME energy-sources technology conference and exhibition and 7. intersociety cryogenic symposium, Houston, TX, USA, 22 Jan 1989; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
WIND TURBINES
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
STRUCTURE FUNCTIONS
AERODYNAMICS
ALGORITHMS
DESIGN
ELECTRIC CONTROLLERS
FATIGUE
MEASURING METHODS
ROTORS
STRAIN GAGES
STRAINS
STRESSES
TESTING
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FLUID MECHANICS
FUNCTIONS
MACHINERY
MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICS
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
170602* - Wind Energy Engineering- Turbine Design & Operation