Assessing the Importance of Nonlinearities in the Development of a Substructure Model for the Wind Turbine CAE Tool FAST: Preprint

• Main Authors: Damiani, R., Jonkman, J., Robertson, A., Song, H.
• Other Authors: Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program (U.S.)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (U.S.) 2013
• Subjects: Fast Modeling; Jacket Modeling; Offshore Wind Turbine; Substructure Modeling; Wind Energy; 17 Wind Energy Offshore Wind Turbine; Arctic
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc845256/

Design and analysis of wind turbines are performed using aero-servo-elastic tools that account for the nonlinear coupling between aerodynamics, controls, and structural response. The NREL-developed computer-aided engineering (CAE) tool FAST also resolves the hydrodynamics of fixed-bottom structures and floating platforms for offshore wind applications. This paper outlines the implementation of a structural-dynamics module (SubDyn) for offshore wind turbines with space-frame substructures into the current FAST framework, and focuses on the initial assessment of the importance of structural nonlinearities. Nonlinear effects include: large displacements, axial shortening due to bending, cross-sectional transverse shear effects, etc.