B51EM: You will be designing the “steel jacket” part of an offshore wind turbine (typically 3MW) of the type shown in Figure 1: Advanced Mechanics of Materials 1 Assignment, HWU, UK

Part 1 – Design of structure

You will be designing the “steel jacket” part of an offshore wind turbine (typically 3MW) of the type shown in Figure 1. You will be “recycling” the design procedures for such structures, developed in the 1980s for offshore oil and gas production, Figure

1.1 Sizing of tubes.

Choose a frame configuration from the 3 options in Figure 3. Select key dimensions of tower and jacket heights and sketch jacket in 2D (example representation in Figure 4, showing reactions and loads). Consider wind loading on the rotor only and use the following for the thrust force on the rotor

where ρ is the air density, A the swept area, CT, the coefficient of thrust and v the wind speed. Convert Fw into a couple plus horizontal load (blue arrows in Figure 3) and decide on what reaction types you wish to use (orange arrows in Figure 3).

Ensure that your structure is statically determinate (number of members + number of reactions = 2 × number of joints). Analyse the jacket as a 2D pin-jointed frame (truss), using your estimated values of loads (weight of tower plus turbine, green arrow and rotor wind load, blue arrows). Note that this method assumes no moments at joints (or at loading or reaction points) and, hence, that each member is either a strut (in compression) or a tie (in tension).

Classify each joint as Y, K or X, and identify chord (member carrying largest load) and brace(s). Estimate the chord wall thickness, T, from:

where P is the axial force in the brace (in N), Fy is the yield strength of your chosen material (in MPa) and β is the diameter ratio, d/D. Then, obtain wall thicknesses and diameters for each member ensuring that their cross-section remains below yield in either tension or compression (Figure 5).

Finally, identify the location and magnitude of the “hot-spot” stress range, S, as a function of wind speed, v, Figure 6. The hot-spots are in the welded intersections between the members and are the areas most prone to fatigue

1.2 Fatigue life

Using spectral fatigue analysis, determine the fatigue life at the “hot-spot” using the method published by Williams and Rinne4 . First, find a wind loading spectrum for your chosen location, and then fit the closest Rayleigh spectrum that you can. Devise a relationship of the form ???? = ???????? ????using your design considerations.

1.3 Discussion

Discuss your results critically. This means that you should assess the likely effect of the assumptions that you have made, including those you have been directed to make. You should also say what additional analysis (or measurements) you would need to do to improve your confidence in the design or, if inadequate, how you would improve the design

Part 2 – Design of rotor hub

Figure 7 shows a typical large wind turbine rotor hub design, made from a cast alloy (which you are free to choose). Simplify the design so that it is a cylindrical ring and calculate a suitable wall thickness, based on the circumferential stress at your highest anticipated rotational speed. You should assume that the ring is only subject to inertial loading so that it can be treated as a rotating disc (plane stress).

2.1 Defect assessment

Use the R6 procedure to determine the largest tolerable casting defects oriented in the radial and circumferential directions, respectively.

2.2 Discussion

Comment on your results and decide on appropriate inspection procedures at
installation and in service

Use the simple cantilever model of a turbine blade in Figure 8 and assume it to be a rectangular sheet made from an isotropic material.

3.1 Displacement functions

Choose appropriate values for the elastic moduli E and ν and calculate the profile of zdisplacement as a function of y (Figure 8) up to a value of δmax at y = L. Now, introduce a twist into the blade by assuming that the z-displacement at y = L is larger than δmax at x = 0 and smaller than δmax at x = B. Finally, write down equations for the displacement functions

3.2 Distribution of strain tensor

Using your answer to 3.1, and the small strain – displacement equations in Cartesian co-ordinates, determine the components of the strain tensor in the x-y plane. The components should be expressed as functions of x and y in microstrain, thus:

3.3 Map of maximum direct strain

Using your answer to 3.2, select four points in the x-y plane and find the magnitude and direction of the maximum principal magnification factor, M1. Show these in a map of the x-y plane as vectors.

3.4 Discussion

Comment on your results, including their relevance to a realistic composite turbine blade.

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