Influence of non-Gaussian characteristics of wind load on fatigue damage of wind turbine

Abstract:

Based on translation models, both Gaussian and non-Gaussian wind fields were generated using Monte Carlo simulation for investigating the influence of non-Gaussian characteristics of wind load on fatigue damage of wind turbine. With the blade aerodynamic model and multi-body dynamics, dynamic responses were calculated, and probability characteristics of the response were analyzed. Using linear damage accumulation theory and linear crack propagation theory, crack initiation life and crack propagation life were discussed in detail. The results show that the maximum responses under three types of wind fields are different, and non-Gaussian characteristics of wind load are more significant than those of the response. For areas with smaller annual mean wind speeds, non-Gaussian characteristics of wind load have less influence on fatigue life of wind turbine, but the influence becomes significant with the increase of the annual mean wind speed. When the annual mean wind speeds are 7 m/s and 9 m/s, the crack initiation lives under softening non-Gaussian wind decrease by 10% compared with Gaussian wind fields. It concludes that the influence of softening non-Gaussian characteristics should be considered for areas with higher annual mean wind speeds.