Articles | Volume 11, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-11-3193-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-11-3193-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Load application in wind turbine blades modelled as reduced-order multibody structures in the floating frame of reference formulation
Department of Wind and Energy Systems, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, Roskilde, 4000, Denmark
Andreas Zwölfer
Chair of Applied Mechanics, Department of Mechanical Engineering, TUM School of Engineering and Design, Technical University of Munich, Boltzmannstr. 15, Garching, 85748, Germany
David Robert Verelst
Department of Wind and Energy Systems, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, Roskilde, 4000, Denmark
Riccardo Riva
Department of Wind and Energy Systems, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, Roskilde, 4000, Denmark
Philipp Ulrich Haselbach
Department of Wind and Energy Systems, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, Roskilde, 4000, Denmark
Taeseong Kim
Department of Wind and Energy Systems, Technical University of Denmark, Frederiksborgvej 399, Roskilde, 4000, Denmark
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We introduce fast response methods to predict how floating wind turbines behave in early design stages. By transforming the equations of motion into a form that is easier to compute, our approach avoids longer simulations while preserving accuracy. We developed both single and double perturbation methods, which run far faster than standard models with errors under 3.5 %. The single perturbation method at second order offers the strongest balance of speed and accuracy.
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A floating wind turbine time domain model, which considers dynamic stall, is used to develop Coleman-free aero-elastic stability analysis methods, namely Hill's and Floquet's. We clarify how the floater tilt is involved in the stability analysis, show damping effects of aerodynamic states, prove that results of both methods agree and can reproduce the forward- and backward-whirling rotor modes in a Coleman-based analysis, and demonstrate that both methods can be applied to a two-bladed rotor.
Sara Müller, Xiaoli Guo Larsén, and David Robert Verelst
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Tropical cyclone winds are challenging for wind turbines. We analyze a tropical cyclone before landfall in a mesoscale model. The simulated wind speeds and storm structure are sensitive to the boundary parametrization. However, independent of the boundary layer parametrization, the median change in wind speed and wind direction with height is small relative to wind turbine design standards. Strong spatial organization of wind shear and veer along the rainbands may increase wind turbine loads.
David Robert Verelst, Rasmus Sode Lund, and Jean-Philippe Roques
Wind Energ. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2024-24, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2024-24, 2024
Publication in WES not foreseen
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This study discusses key issues when performing simulations of a dynamic power cable that is connected to a floating wind turbine. Such simulations are an important tool to asses if the floater and cable motions cause the power cable to survive or fail specific conditions, and generally assure they can fulfil their intended design life. This work describes how to model such power cables and combine that with a fully coupled model of an operating floating wind turbine.
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Wind Energ. Sci., 8, 231–245, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-8-231-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-8-231-2023, 2023
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In this work we use observations of large coherent fluctuations to define a probabilistic gust model. The gust model provides the joint description of the gust rise time, amplitude, and direction change. We perform load simulations with a coherent gust according to the wind turbine safety standard and with the probabilistic gust model. A comparison of the simulated loads shows that the loads from the probabilistic gust model can be significantly higher due to variability in the gust parameters.
Heloisa Guedes Mendonça, Lars Pilgaard Mikkelsen, Xiao Chen, Johannes Bode, Flemming Mortensen, Philipp Ulrich Haselbach, and Kim Branner
Wind Energ. Sci., 7, 2513–2525, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-7-2513-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-7-2513-2022, 2022
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Wrinkles are production defects of wind turbine blades characterized by fibre waviness through the laminate thickness. Such defects are pointed to as one of the primary sources of premature failure of the blade, which impacts the structure's structural reliability. This work shows a methodology to evaluate the impact of wrinkles on wind turbine blades featuring preliminary results, which present the detrimental effect of small wrinkles on the structural response of the blade.
Chandramouli Santhanam, Riccardo Riva, and Torben Knudsen
Wind Energ. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2022-79, https://doi.org/10.5194/wes-2022-79, 2022
Revised manuscript not accepted
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As turbine blades get longer and flexible, it is crucial to evaluate stability against Stall Induced Vibrations. This task is however computationally expensive and in this work we propose a framework to evaluate stability against SIV at a reduced computational cost using surrogate models. The framework is demonstrated to study the effect of five inflow variables, and the results show that inflow conditions with a moderate yaw angle, high wind speeds, and negative veer lead to severe SIV.
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Short summary
This study addresses the challenges of applying aerodynamic loads to a multibody reduced-order model based on solid finite elements. This model differs from the beam models typically used in wind turbine aeroelastic simulations by relying on a higher-fidelity finite element model. The results show that the proposed load application methodology produces accurate structural responses, while also identifying best practices for this process.
This study addresses the challenges of applying aerodynamic loads to a multibody reduced-order...
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