Modal testing in the design evaluation of wind turbines

Conference · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5830619

Lauffer, J P; Carne, T G; Ashwill, T D

This paper reviews several techniques which have been used to successfully measure modal parameters for wind turbines. Due to problems in providing low frequency excitation (0.1 to 5.0 Hz), modal testing of moderate-size turbines can be difficult. Several techniques of low frequency excitation have been explored, including impact, wind, step-relaxation, and human input. As one application of these techniques, a prototype turbine was tested and two modal frequencies were found to be very close to integral multiples of the operating speed, which caused a resonant condition. The design was modified to shift these frequencies, and the turbine was retested to confirm the expected changes in the modal frequencies. 8 refs., 16 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5830619
• Report Number(s): SAND-87-2461C; CONF-871062-7; ON: DE88002220
• Resource Relation: Conference: Windpower '87, San Francisco, CA, USA, 5 Oct 1987; Other Information: Paper copy only, copy does not permit microfiche production
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
WIND TURBINES
DYNAMIC LOADS
OSCILLATION MODES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
FOURIER TRANSFORMATION
HARMONICS
MEASURING METHODS
RESONANCE
DATA
INFORMATION
INTEGRAL TRANSFORMATIONS
MACHINERY
NUMERICAL DATA
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
OSCILLATIONS
TRANSFORMATIONS
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
170602* - Wind Energy Engineering- Turbine Design & Operation