12CSER080 - Reconstruction of extreme events in offshore wind-turbines
| Project number | 12CSER080 |
| Project title | Reconstruction of extreme events in offshore wind-turbines |
| Applicant(s) | Dr. R.P. Dwight |
| Abstract | Current offshore wind turbine blades have fatigue problems from unsteady wind gusts. Although fluid-‐structure interaction simulations have acceptable errors, it is difficult to relate these idealized results to individual turbines in the field due to uncertainties in the blade structure and the wind field. Increased instrumentation of the blades has provided large data-‐sets, which are however difficult to interpret due to complex underlying physical processes and large uncertainties in onflow conditions. The aim of this project is to combine experiment and simulation for increased insight into the behavior of real turbines during extreme events. For this we will use stochastic tools to account for uncertainty, in particular a Bayesian framework. Innovative numerical methods will be required to reduce the computational cost to a feasible level. From anomalous events in the sensor data we will then be able to reconstruct the likely behavior of the complete turbine (both structure and fluid) with uncertainties at the time of the event. Our experience in stochastic model updating for investigating dynamic aeroelastic instabilities, and assimilation of experimental data into CFD codes will aid us. We provide more insight into turbine failure and ultimately reduced unscheduled maintenance costs. The highly innovative computational framework will be applicable to extreme events under uncertainty in other domains as well (e.g. impeller failure). |
| Project budget | k€ 256 (includes 1 PhD student and material budget) |
| Duration | 2013 - 2017 |