Prediction of wind turbine gearbox gears fatigue damage under turbulent loading based on spectrum method

Abstract

This paper presents research result of short term wind turbulence impacts to gearbox dynamic response of wind turbines. Fatigue assessment method for non-zero nonGaussian process is developed. A fluid dynamic model is built for wind speed and dynamic response model for wind turbine gearbox is constructed. Impacts of non-Gaussian loading to gear fatigue damage assessment of gearbox stress spectral density are analyzed. Wind speed, which serve as external excitation to wind turbines fatigue damage are studied. A new method of frequency-domain fatigue assessment method is developed for non-zero non Gaussian process. SCADA data is also proposed as a new testing source to prove the fatigue assessment method. The research is meaningful to improve wind turbine reliability and contribute to development of wind turbine gearbox fatigue assessment theory. The result provides useful theory and tools for future prognostic maintenance.