Nonlinear aeroelastic characterization of wind turbine blades

Y. Bichiou, A. Abdelkefi, M. R. Hajj

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

A nonlinear aeroelastic characterization of wind turbine blades is performed. A two-dimensional aerodynamic model based on the quasi-steady approximation is coupled with a plunging and pitching blade section. The governing nondimensional equations are derived. The normal form of the Hopf bifurcation is derived and used to characterize the behavior of the system. Using linear analysis, it is demonstrated that, as the blade radius and/or operating rotational speed are increased, wind turbine blades become more susceptible to flutter at freestream velocities that are close to the cut-out speed. The nonlinear analysis, based on the normal form of the Hopf bifurcation, shows that, depending on the nonlinear structural parameters and initial conditions, subcritical instability may take place which means that high limit-cycle oscillation amplitudes may take place at freestream velocities that are lower than the linear flutter speed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)621-631
Number of pages11
JournalJVC/Journal of Vibration and Control
Volume22
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Feb 2016

Keywords

  • Hopf bifurcation
  • Wind turbine blades
  • flutter
  • nonlinear dynamics
  • normal form

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