Open AccessRam‐air kite airfoil and reinforcements optimization for airborne wind energy applications
Author(s) -
Thedens Paul,
Oliveira Gael,
Schmehl Roland
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
wind energy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.743
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1099-1824
pISSN - 1095-4244
DOI - 10.1002/we.2313
Subject(s) - kite , airfoil , aerodynamics , traction (geology) , marine engineering , aerospace engineering , wind power , engineering , structural engineering , mechanical engineering , automotive engineering , computer science , mathematics , electrical engineering , geometry
Abstract We present a multidisciplinary design optimization method for the profile and structural reinforcement layout of a ram‐air kite rib. The aim is to minimize the structural elastic energy and to maximize the traction power of a ram‐air kite used for airborne wind energy generation. Because of the large deformations occurring during flight, a fluid‐structure interaction (FSI) routine is included in the optimization, which determines the actual deformed rib geometry and its corresponding aerodynamic characteristics. A qualitative comparison between FSI inclusion and exclusion in the optimization is given. Discrepancies in airfoil profile and structural layout are observed.