Aeroelastic Simulation of Full-Machine Wind Turbines Using a Two-Way Fluid-Structure Interaction Approach

Two-way fluid–structure interaction (FSI) simulation of wind turbines has gained significant attention in recent years due to the growth of offshore wind energy development. Strong coupling procedures in these simulations predict realistic behavior with higher accuracy but result in increased comput...

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Main Authors: Nan-You Lu, Jia Kai Lam, Yu Lin, Shiu-Wu Chau
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/12/12/2271
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author Nan-You Lu
Jia Kai Lam
Yu Lin
Shiu-Wu Chau
author_facet Nan-You Lu
Jia Kai Lam
Yu Lin
Shiu-Wu Chau
author_sort Nan-You Lu
collection DOAJ
description Two-way fluid–structure interaction (FSI) simulation of wind turbines has gained significant attention in recent years due to the growth of offshore wind energy development. Strong coupling procedures in these simulations predict realistic behavior with higher accuracy but result in increased computational costs and potential numerical instabilities. This paper proposes a mixed weak and strong coupling approach for the FSI simulation of a 5 MW wind turbine. The deformation of the turbine blade is calculated using a weak coupling approach, ensuring blade deflection meets a convergence criterion before rotating to the next azimuthal position. Fluid and solid solvers are partitioned, utilizing the commercial software packages STAR-CCM+ and Abaqus, respectively. Flexible and rigid blade cases are modeled, and the calculated loads, power, and blade tip displacement for the rotor at a constant rotating speed are compared. The proposed model is validated, showing good agreement with the existing literature and results comparable to those from another validated wind turbine simulator. The effect of rotor–tower interaction is evident in the results. Based on our calculations, the power production of flexible blades is evaluated to be 9.6% lower than that of rigid blades.
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spelling doaj-art-0591418a59ad4c21be2009a7f46b129c2025-08-20T02:56:55ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122024-12-011212227110.3390/jmse12122271Aeroelastic Simulation of Full-Machine Wind Turbines Using a Two-Way Fluid-Structure Interaction ApproachNan-You Lu0Jia Kai Lam1Yu Lin2Shiu-Wu Chau3Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, TaiwanDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, TaiwanDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Keelung Rd., Taipei 10617, TaiwanNTU Energy Research Center, National Taiwan University, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 10617, TaiwanTwo-way fluid–structure interaction (FSI) simulation of wind turbines has gained significant attention in recent years due to the growth of offshore wind energy development. Strong coupling procedures in these simulations predict realistic behavior with higher accuracy but result in increased computational costs and potential numerical instabilities. This paper proposes a mixed weak and strong coupling approach for the FSI simulation of a 5 MW wind turbine. The deformation of the turbine blade is calculated using a weak coupling approach, ensuring blade deflection meets a convergence criterion before rotating to the next azimuthal position. Fluid and solid solvers are partitioned, utilizing the commercial software packages STAR-CCM+ and Abaqus, respectively. Flexible and rigid blade cases are modeled, and the calculated loads, power, and blade tip displacement for the rotor at a constant rotating speed are compared. The proposed model is validated, showing good agreement with the existing literature and results comparable to those from another validated wind turbine simulator. The effect of rotor–tower interaction is evident in the results. Based on our calculations, the power production of flexible blades is evaluated to be 9.6% lower than that of rigid blades.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/12/12/2271NREL 5 MW wind turbinefluid–structure interactionrotor–tower interactionmixed weak and strong coupling
spellingShingle Nan-You Lu
Jia Kai Lam
Yu Lin
Shiu-Wu Chau
Aeroelastic Simulation of Full-Machine Wind Turbines Using a Two-Way Fluid-Structure Interaction Approach
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
NREL 5 MW wind turbine
fluid–structure interaction
rotor–tower interaction
mixed weak and strong coupling
title Aeroelastic Simulation of Full-Machine Wind Turbines Using a Two-Way Fluid-Structure Interaction Approach
title_full Aeroelastic Simulation of Full-Machine Wind Turbines Using a Two-Way Fluid-Structure Interaction Approach
title_fullStr Aeroelastic Simulation of Full-Machine Wind Turbines Using a Two-Way Fluid-Structure Interaction Approach
title_full_unstemmed Aeroelastic Simulation of Full-Machine Wind Turbines Using a Two-Way Fluid-Structure Interaction Approach
title_short Aeroelastic Simulation of Full-Machine Wind Turbines Using a Two-Way Fluid-Structure Interaction Approach
title_sort aeroelastic simulation of full machine wind turbines using a two way fluid structure interaction approach
topic NREL 5 MW wind turbine
fluid–structure interaction
rotor–tower interaction
mixed weak and strong coupling
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/12/12/2271
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