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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Fatigue reliability of wind turbine components

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6501209

Fatigue life estimates for wind turbine components can be extremely variable due to both inherently random and uncertain parameters. A structural reliability analysis is used to qualify the probability that the fatigue life will fall short of a selected target. Reliability analysis also produces measures of the relative importance of the various sources of uncertainty and the sensitivity of the reliability to each input parameter. The process of obtaining reliability estimates is briefly outlined. An example fatigue reliability calculation for a blade joint is formulated; reliability estimates, importance factors, and sensitivities are produced. Guidance in selecting distribution functions for the random variables used to model the random and uncertain parameters is also provided. 5 refs., 9 figs., 1 tab.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/CE
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
6501209
Report Number(s):
SAND-90-2538C; CONF-9009107--3; ON: DE91001262
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English