Fluid-solid Interaction Analysis of Wind Turbine Based on the Improved Actuator Surface Model

Abstract

Abstract Enhancing accuracy and efficiency of fluid-solid interaction solution is crucial as the wind turbine increases in size and output power. An improved actuator surface model is developed based on the three-dimensional plate-element method, the blade tip loss and three-dimensional rotation effects are comprehensively modified and the shear flow and tower shadow effects are further explored. Results show that the improved actuator surface model has advantages in both precision and efficiency for predicting aerodynamic responses. The stress distribution on the pressure and suction faces of the blade is equivalent, and the primary areas of stress concentration are nearly in the middle span. Blade deformation increases with the incoming wind speed, and the maximum deformation occurs at the blade tip.Shear flow effectively decreases the load on wind turbines, which results in lower average thrust and power output, as well as the blade tip displacement and maximum strain. Surface pressure coefficients on wind turbine models with/without a tower are different greatly on the leading edge of suction face. The closer to the blade root, the greater the difference in pressure distribution, the stronger the interference effect, and the greater the impact of the tower shadow effect on the blade's aerodynamic load.