Structural optimisation of H-Rotor wind turbine blade based on one-way Fluid Structure Interaction approach

Abstract

The paper aims to present structural topology optimisation of the structural topology of the H-Rotor wind turbine combined with the one-way Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) approach. The developed methodology couples the set of Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes Equations (URANS) with the steady state linear elasticity equations and density based topology optimisation method. This approach allowed us to reduce the mass of the blades with respect to the maximum stress and deformation limits. The results obtained provide detailed information on the unsteady flow fields around the operating wind turbine, as well as optimised topology of the blade interior without affecting the external aerodynamic profile. The load of pressure profile from the CFD simulation was implemented at the point of rotation at which the force values observed on the blade surface were the highest. The centrifugal force was considered in the structural model. Computations were carried out for wind speed equal to 30 m/s and rotational velocity equal to 90 rad/s. The turbine operating parameters were chosen to represent extreme operating conditions. The results obtained showed that the blade mass, made of the same material, can be easily reduced by around 60% with the reduction of the observed stress values and deformation.