Innovative approach to computer-aided design of horizontal axis wind turbine blades

Abstract

Abstract The design of horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) blades involves several geometric complexities. As a result, the modeling of these blades by commercial computer-aided design (CAD) software is not easily accomplished. In the present paper, the HAWT blade is divided into structural and aerodynamic surfaces with a G1 continuity imposed on their connecting region. The widely used method of skinning is employed throughout the current work for surface approximation. In addition, to ensure the compatibility of section curves, a novel approach is developed based on the redistribution of input airfoil points. In order to evaluate deviation errors, the Hausdorff metric is used. The fairness of surfaces is quantitatively assessed using the standard strain energy method. The above-mentioned algorithms are successfully integrated into a MATLAB program so as to enhance further optimization applications. The final surfaces created by the procedure developed during the present study can be exported using the IGES standard file format and directly interpreted by commercial CAD and FE software. Highlights A new skinning approach is presented based on redistribution of input data points. The developed skinning method is successfully applied to the design of horizontal axis wind turbine blades. It has been shown that the blade surface constructed using the developed method is fair and visually pleasing. Special attention has been paid to construct a smooth surface in the transition area between the root and the section with maximum chord.