Open AccessStructural Analysis of a Small Wind Turbine Blade Subjected to Gyroscopic Load
Author(s) -
Mariana Salles Pereira da Costa,
Philip Clausen
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of physics. conference series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.21
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1742-6596
pISSN - 1742-6588
DOI - 10.1088/1742-6596/1618/4/042006
Subject(s) - finite element method , structural engineering , turbine blade , aerodynamics , blade (archaeology) , turbine , blade element theory , blade element momentum theory , gyroscope , engineering , mechanical engineering , aerospace engineering
A study was conducted to investigate the structural response of a composite constructed small wind turbine blade subjected to gyroscopic load using finite element analysis. An Aerogenesis 5 kW small wind turbine blade was used as a case study. As part of this study, a high-fidelity finite element model of the 2.5 m long composite blade was built, and the accuracy of its predictions validated against experimental data. The blade model was loaded using a comprehensive method for applying gyroscopic load to finite element models of small-scale blades. The predicted results show gyroscopic loading causes the blade to deflect in both the flap-wise and lead-lag directions and induce reasonably high strains in the composite blade structure. The direction of the gyroscopic loading is a function of the direction of turbine yaw as well as the blade position as it rotates, therefore gyroscopic loading can both exacerbate and reduce the effects of aerodynamic loading acting on the blade.