Wind Turbine Simulation Using a Coupled Free Wake and Multibody System Code

This paper contributes to the development of an aeroelastic simulation tool for wind turbines based on a coupled non-linear multibody simulation and a non-linear lifting line vortex wake theory code. The structural blade modelling in the multibody simulation tool SIMPACK and the theory of the aerodynamic module AWSM is described as well as the coupling strategy of the multibody and the aerodynamic module. The evaluation of the potential of the described simulation approach is performed in detail by comparing some exemplary and simplified load cases. The paper concludes with an outlook on the further development, which should overcome shortcomings in the present industrial simulation approach.

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