Nastran-based software for the structural dynamic analysis of vertical and horizontal axis wind turbines

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6333259

Lobitz, D W

Throughout the vertical axis wind turbine program at Sandia a significant effort has gone into developing finite element tools for predicting structural dynamic rotor response. Instead of creating new finite element packages, appropriate modifications to the NASTRAN code were made for the development of these tools. With this approach duplication of such things as input and output coding, finite element processors and solution algorithms is avoided. Although some DMAP programming is required, most of the changes are effected through the use of NASTRAN's direct matrix input option. These matrix alterations are necessary to model a structure moving in a rotating frame. To date, tools which predict natural frequencies and mode shapes, and the forced vibration frequency response of the rotating turbine have been developed. More recently, for horizontal axis rotors, a capability has been created for computing transient behavior as the roto turns in the wind. In this case, a solution procedure external to NASTRAN had to be employed in order to correctly attach the rotor hub which moves in the rotating frame to the tower which is modeled in a fixed frame. In all cases these tools have been compared with experimental data collected from various wind turbines and, for each, very satisfactory agreement has been achieved.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6333259
• Report Number(s): SAND-84-0547C; CONF-841071-1; ON: TI85001712
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
170602* -- Wind Energy Engineering-- Turbine Design & Operation
BENDING
COMPUTER CODES
DYNAMICS
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
MACHINERY
MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS
MECHANICS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
VERTICAL AXIS TURBINES
WIND TURBINES