• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.221-236
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• 2017

In this study, the feasibility of vibration-based damage alarming algorithms are numerically evaluated for wind turbine tower structures which are subjected to harmonic force excitation. Firstly, the algorithm of vibration-based damage alarming for the wind turbine tower (WTT) is visited. The natural frequency change, modal assurance criterion (MAC) and frequency-response-ratio assurance criterion (FRRAC) are utilized to recognize changes in dynamic characteristics due to a structural damage. Secondly, a finite element model based on a real wind turbine tower is established in a structural analysis program, Midas FEA. The harmonic force is applied at the rotor level as presence of excitation. Several structural damage scenarios are numerically simulated in segmental joints of the wind turbine model. Finally, the natural frequency change, MAC and FRRAC algorithm are employed to identify the structural damage occurred in the finite element model. The results show that these criteria could be used as promising damage existence indicators for the damage alarming in wind turbine supporting structures.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.347-359
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• 2021

This study aims to evaluate the dynamic responses of the jacket-type offshore wind turbine using FAST software (Fatigue, Aerodynamics, Structures, and Turbulence). A systematic series of simulation cases of a 5 MW jacket-type offshore wind turbine, including wind-only, wave-only, wind & wave load cases are conducted. The dynamic responses of the wind turbine structure are obtained, including the structure displacement, rotor speed, thrust force, nacelle acceleration, bending moment at the tower bottom, and shear force on the jacket leg. The calculated time-domain results are transformed to frequency domain results using FFT and the environmental load with more impact on each dynamic response is identified. It is confirmed that the dynamic displacements of the wind turbine are dominant in the wave frequency under the incident wave alone condition, and the rotor thrust, nacelle acceleration, and bending moment at the bottom of the tower exhibit high responses in the natural frequency band of the wind turbine. In the wind only condition, all responses except the vertical displacement of the wind turbine are dominant at three times the rotor rotation frequency (considering the number of blades) generated by the wind. In a combined external force with wind and waves, it was observed that the horizontal displacement is dominant by the wind load. Additionally, the bending moment on the tower base is highly affected by the wind. The shear force of the jacket leg is basically influenced by the wave loads, but it can be affected by both the wind and wave loads especially under the turbulent wind and irregular wave conditions.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.507-519
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• 2018

In this paper, damage assessment in wind-turbine towers using vibration-based artificial neural networks (ANNs) is numerically investigated. At first, a vibration-based ANNs algorithm is designed for damage detection in a wind turbine tower. The ANNs architecture consists of an input, an output, and hidden layers. Modal parameters of the wind turbine tower such as mode shapes and frequencies are utilized as the input and the output layer composes of element stiffness indices. Next, the finite element model of a real wind-turbine tower is established as the test structure. The natural frequencies and mode shapes of the test structure are computed under various damage cases of single and multiple damages to generate training patterns. Finally, the ANNs are trained using the generated training patterns and employed to detect damaged elements and severities in the test structure.

• Journal of Wind Energy
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.13-20
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• 2023

A self-climbing crane (SCC) system is under development for the installation and maintenance of wind turbines. It can move vertically along the wind turbine tower by itself. One of the key components of the SCC system is the clamping pad to maintain a safe position on the wind turbine tower. The SCC system can maintain its position on the tower from the frictional force generated between the surfaces of the clamping pads and the tower. If the frictional force provided by the clamping pads are insufficient, the SCC system cannot stay in the vertical position on the tower. Therefore, the development of clamping pads with sufficient frictional force is very important for the SCC system. At the same time, the operation of the SCC system should not damage the paint coating of the wind turbine tower. In order to verify that the frictional force is sufficient and that frictional and compressive forces do not cause damage to the paint, a number of combined compression and shear loading tests were conducted using a test device prepared for this study. The details regarding the test specimens, test procedure, and test results are summarized in this paper.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.79-100
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• 2017

The use of wind energy resources is developing rapidly in recent decades. There is an increasing number of wind farms in high wind-velocity areas such as the Pacific Rim regions. Wind turbine towers are vulnerable to tropical cyclones and tower failures have been reported in an increasing number in these regions. Existing post-disaster failure case studies were mostly performed through forensic investigations and there are few numerical studies that address the collapse mode simulation of wind turbine towers under strong wind loads. In this paper, the wind-induced failure analysis of a conventional 65 m hub high 1.5-MW wind turbine was carried out by means of nonlinear response time-history analyses in a detailed finite element model of the structure. The wind loading was generated based on the wind field parameters adapted from the cyclone boundary layer flow. The analysis results indicate that this particular tower fails due to the formation of a full-section plastic hinge at locations that are consistent with those reported from field investigations, which suggests the validity of the proposed numerical analysis in the assessment of the performance of wind-farms under cyclonic winds. Furthermore, the numerical simulation allows to distinguish different failure stages before the dynamic collapse occurs in the proposed wind turbine tower, opening the door to future research on the control of these intermediate collapse phases.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.104-110
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• 2018

This study is to propose the structural design and analysis procedure about composite blade and tower of vertical axis wind turbine technology. In this study, structural design of tower for vertical axis wind turbine was performed after vertical blade design and manufacturing. The structural design requirement and specification of blade and tower was investigated. After tower of structural design, the structural analysis of the tower was conducted by the finite element method. It was performed that the stress, deformation and natural frequency analysis at the applied loading. The design modification of tower configuration was proposed by structural analysis. It was confirmed that the final designed tower structure is safety through the structural analysis.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2005.07a
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• pp.411-413
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• 2005

This paper proposes a modeling of wind turbine simulator which includes the dynamic characteristics such as pitch angle control, torsional vibration, and tower effect. Simulation results using PSCAD are provided to show the wind turbine simulator performance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.1165-1169
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• 2006

Vibration characteristics of a small stand alone W/T(wind turbine) system are experimentally and theoretically investigated. Vibration resonance of the tower-cable system is monitored and the data are analysed with the analytical results. To predict the resonance speed of the cable supported WIT. Rayleigh-Ritz method is applied to the tower-guy cable coupled system. Parametric study on the relation of the cable tension. cable elasticity and resonance frequency is carried out. Results of the study are utilized to design the stable structure of small size wind turbines which consist of a pivoted tower and guy cables.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.29 no.A
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• pp.3-8
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• 2009

Vibration characteristics of a 6kW stand alone W/T(wind turbine) system are experimentally and theoretically investigated. Vibration resonance of the tower-cable system is monitored and the data are analysed and compared with the analytical results. To predict the resonance speed of the cable supported W/T, Rayleigh-Ritz method is applied to the tower-guy cable coupled system. Parametric study on the relation of the cable tension, cable elasticity and resonance frequency is carried out. Results of the study are utilized to design the stable structure of small size wind turbines which consist of a pivoted tower and guy cables.

• Journal of computational fluids engineering
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2013

The performance of the wind turbine is determined by wind speed and unsteady flow characteristics. Unsteady wake flow causes not only the decline in performance but also structural problems of the wind turbine. In this paper, conceptual designs for the wind turbine tower are conducted to minimize unsteady wake flow. Numerical simulations are performed to inspect the shape effect of the tower. Through the installation of additional structures at the rear of the tower, the creation of Karman vortex is delayed properly and vortex interactions are reduced extremely, which enhance the stability of the wind turbine. From the comparative analysis of lift and drag coefficients for each structure, it is concluded that two streamwise tips with a splitter plate have the most improved aerodynamic characteristics in stabilizing wake flow.