A generalized cross section model to gain

insights in blade aeroelastic challenges

E. Branlard1, J. Jonkman2, J. Porter3, G. Vijayakumar2, B. Jonkman4, E. Mayda4, K.Dixon4
1University
of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, USA, 2National Renewable Energy Laboratory, CO, USA 3Rice University, Houston, TX, USA, 4 Envision Energy, Boulder, CO, USA
1ebranlard@umass.edu

Introduction
We present a method to gain insight into the aeroelastic stability of wind turbine blades
using a reduced-order model that approximates the aerodynamics and structural Full blade
properties of the full blade [1]. The method can be used to study the impact of
nonlinear aerodynamics (from engineering models or CFD) on the stability of wind
turbine blades in operation or in standstill. In essence, we separate the space and time
variables, and we use the loads and motions at a given cross section to scale the loads
Generalized
and motion of the entire blade. Our approach is not a modal reduction, nor a simple 2D
cross section
cross section model, but to some extent, it is a blend between the two approaches.

Generalized cross section

Generalized Cross Section
We use a shape function approach (Rayleigh-Ritz) to obtain reduced-order models of the structural dynamics and
aerodynamics of the blade. Effectively, this achieves a separation of the space and time variable.
3-DOFs ❑ For the structure, we use three generalized degrees of freedom (q), representing the 2D motion of a cross section
(i.e., pure flap, edge and torsional displacements), but capturing the coupled linear dynamics of the full blade.
❑ For the aerodynamics, we use 2D nonlinear aerodynamic loads at a given cross section (fsec) to scale the loads on
the full blade. We note that most wind turbine simulation tools rely on a lifting-line formulation of the blade (e.g.,
3-DOFs system actuator line CFD, or blade element momentum (BEM) theory), and therefore rely on 2D aerodynamics.
Ultimately, we get a 3 degrees of freedom (DOFs) system with linear structural dynamics and nonlinear aerodynamics.

Structural Shape Functions

Eigenvalue analysis
To obtain the generalized system matrices (M, K) of the cross section, we use the
following procedure (illustrated in the figures and equations on the right):
❑ We perform an eigenvalue analysis using the system matrices (MFE, KFE) obtained by Extract modes
a finite element (FE) representation of the blade which captures the geometrical
stiffening effects at a given operating point.
❑ We extract the first flap, edge and torsional modes (Φ) - in general, they are coupled. From the 1st flap mode, to
Transform to scaled shape functions
❑ We obtain the 3x3 matrix (T) that transforms the 3 modes into 3 shape functions (S) the flap shape function
with unit displacements in each direction (flap, edge, torsion) at the section of
interest (r=rsec), typically, at 70% of the span. Once obtained, the shape functions can
be interpolated to any radial position (r).
❑ The displacement of the blade (u) is entirely determined from the shape functions
and the three degrees of freedom of the cross section (q).
❑ The generalized system matrices (M, K) are obtained by integrating (in the FE world,
by multiplying) the properties of the blade against the shape functions.

Displacement field Generalized system matrices The three structural

shape functions

Aerodynamic Shape Functions

To obtain the generalized aerodynamic loads (Qa), we use the following procedure (illustrated on the right):
❑ We use a BEM code to compute representative quasi-steady shape function of the aerodynamic loads in the flap,
edge and torsional direction (px, py, mz) for each operating condition. The three aerodynamic Aerodynamic shape function
❑ We define nondimensional aerodynamic shape functions (Sa), such that they are unitary at the section of interest. shape functions at different operating
❑ We obtain the loads everywhere along the blade span (f(r,t)) , and at a given time by scaling the 2D aerodynamic conditions
loads at the cross section (fsec) with the aerodynamic shape function:

❑ The generalized loads of the cross section are obtained by integrating the spanwise loads against the structural
shape function. By isolating the space variable, the scaling reduces to a 3x3 matrix (ka):

Example of Campbell diagram studying the impact of Stability Analyses & Aeroelastic Insights
engineering models on stability (dummy dataset)
We devised a method to obtain a reduced order-model of a blade using three degrees of freedom and taking as input
the 2D aerodynamics of a cross section. With this model, we can study the aeroelasticity of a blade during standstill
and operation:
❑ Using a 2D CFD solver to understand the 1st order flow physics and compare with engineering models.
❑ Using various BEM engineering models (dynamic inflow, dynamic stall) to gain insights on their impact on stability.
❑ Using parametric studies on various structural and aerodynamic parameters to trigger or prevent instabilities.
We will demonstrate these capabilities and verify our simplified approach against full 3D analyses in future work. We
expect that the model can provide a computationally efficient tool to estimate stability during the design and
optimization of a blade. The source code is provided as part of OpenFAST [3] and WELIB [4].

References
[1] Branlard, Jonkman, Porter, Vijayakumar, Jonkman, Mayda, Dixon, A generalized wind turbine cross section as a
reduced-order model to gain insights in blade aeroelastic challenges, J. Sci. Conf. Series, 2024
[2] OpenFAST, https://gtihub.com/openfast/openfast
[3] WELIB, https://github.com/ebranlard/welib/