Identification of torsional frequencies of a large rotor blade based on measurement and simulation data

Abstract

With increasing size of wind turbines, the aerodynamic and structural properties of the rotor blades become more and more important. However, studies investigating the torsional properties using measurement data and simulation results on full-size turbines are still scarce. In this study, torsional measurements are carried out on a large wind turbine with a rotor diameter of 180 m and compared with model results. In this study, torsional measurements on a large wind turbine with a rotor diameter of 180 m are conducted and compared with model results. Torsional parameters of a rotor blade are identified using two different measurement methods, the first based on strain gauges and the second based on accelerometers. Both methods show frequencies that can be associated with the natural frequencies of the two first torsional modes of the rotor blade. To extract the natural frequencies and to reduce external effects, a manual pitching procedure is evaluated. Here, the first two natural frequencies associated with torsional modes can be identified. In a second step, the behaviour of the blade during power production is investigated and compared with the simulation results.