Fluid-Structure-Characteristics of Flexible Wings for Wind Turbines

具有柔性机翼的风力涡轮机转子可以选择性地获得与传统转子叶片概念类似的空气动力学性能。在此背景下，本文主要研究膜式升力面的气流与柔性结构的相互作用，它一方面对气动性能有很大的影响，另一方面对结构载荷也有很大的影响。研究基于一种具有承重梁结构和柔性机翼的机翼布局。柔性机翼的自适应特性一方面应该允许目标压力分布和气动性能，另一方面提供相对于传统结构设计的较低的结构载荷，以及在高度非定常或阵风来流中减小峰值载荷。重点研究了柔性翼与作用流相互作用的高质量数值模拟方法，并通过翼段风洞实验对模拟结果进行了验证。未来的目标是展示“弯曲”应用的可能潜力，并利用这些调查的结果进行可行性和经济性研究。

Rotors for wind turbines featuring flexible wings may optionally obtain a similar aerodynamic performance compared to conventional rotor blade concepts. In this context, the present research concentrates on the interaction between air flow and flexible structure of a membrane-type lifting surface, which has a significant influence on the aerodynamic performance on the one hand and on the structural loads on the other hand. The investigations are based on a wing configuration with load-bearing beam structure and flexible wing. The adaption characteristics of the flexible wing should on the one hand allow a desired target pressure distribution and aerodynamic performance, and on the other hand provide lower structural loads relative to conventional structural designs along with a reduction of peak loads in highly unsteady or gusty incoming flow. The focus of the work is on the methods for high-quality numerical simulations of the interaction between the flexible wing and the acting flow and the validation of the simulation results by performing wind tunnel experiments for a wing segment. A future aim is to show the possible potentials of “FlexWing” applications and to exploit the results of these investigations for feasibility and economic studies.