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Structural Condition Assessment for Wind Turbine Towers
Title
Structural Condition Assessment for Wind Turbine Towers
Creator
Zahraee, Afshin
Date
2019
Description
Wind-based energy generation has special priority in efforts related to global sustainability. Based on this priority and the desire for...
Show moreWind-based energy generation has special priority in efforts related to global sustainability. Based on this priority and the desire for increase in electricity generation, the size of wind turbines has been tremendously increased in recent years. Moreover, larger wind turbines have access to more stable wind speeds which assists in electricity generation consistency. However, larger wind turbines are more prone to exhibit structural failure due to the increase of size as well as presence of complexities in the structure and wind load interaction. As such, condition monitoring and fault diagnosis of wind turbines are crucial in their sustainable operation. In this work, a new framework for condition assessment of wind turbine towers is developed. This framework enhances the ability to assess the structural condition of in-service wind turbine towers. Using this framework: 1) the wind data for the wind turbine location is collected, 2) a series of numerical modeling and analysis for the wind turbine tower for various wind velocities are performed to obtain the maximum induced stresses and their corresponding critical fatigue components (hot spots), and 3) fatigue analysis is performed leading to prediction for the remaining life of the wind turbine tower. To illustrate the capability of the present method, a case study is performed on an existing wind turbine. The obtained analytical results are compared and verified by the original design parameters. The results obtained for life prediction of the wind turbine tower correlate with life predictions of other existing wind turbine towers. It is anticipated that application of this framework for existing and future wind turbines will enhance their inspection planning as well as offer a more cost-effective process for repair and rehabilitation of wind turbine towers. This will ultimately increase the overall safety of wind turbine systems and enhance their reliability of performance.Keywords: Wind Turbine Tower, Condition Assessment, Life Prediction.
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Efficiency of Carbon Fiber Composite Structural Systems for Tall Buildings: A Parametric Simulation Based Framework for Finite Element Analysis
Title
Efficiency of Carbon Fiber Composite Structural Systems for Tall Buildings: A Parametric Simulation Based Framework for Finite Element Analysis
Creator
Khairnar, Piyush Rajendra
Date
2022
Description
The rate of global urban migration has increased drastically over the last century. With increasing population, the need for dense urban...
Show moreThe rate of global urban migration has increased drastically over the last century. With increasing population, the need for dense urban habitats is growing. Tall buildings are at the forefront of this growth and changing skyline of different cities around the globe is evident. The Structural system is an important and critical component of any tall building. Structural material can significantly impact the performance of a structural system as well as the way it is constructed. Carbon composite is known for its high strength and stiffness, also it is a lightweight structural material. Current industrial techniques allow for manufacturing of structural components made of carbon composite to be used in building structures. Carbon composite as a structural material shows potential to be used in tall buildings where strength and stiffness requirements are a key parameter.This research focuses on applications of Carbon Composite, also known as Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP), as a structural material for tall buildings. The research aims to study the properties of carbon composite as a structural material and to explore its application in the structural system for tall buildings. Mechanical properties of CFRP such as strength, stiffness, etc. are studied with available literature to assess the potential of the material to be used in the design of structural system for tall buildings. Manufacturing processes along with fabrication methods are also studied to investigate the constructability using CFRP. The research draws attention on the issues of connectivity within CFRP structural components as well as performance of CFRP as a structural material in tall building structural systems. Computer based simulations are utilized to develop digital models and analyze the performance of the material in structural systems of tall buildings. Current applications of the material in building and construction sector are addressed in the literature review. This research evaluates the performance of the structural systems for tall buildings using carbon composite as the primary structural material. Connection level simulations presented in this research provide insights on the significance of fiber orientation in the fabrication of structures. Other challenges in the widespread use of CFRP material in tall buildings are addressed in the research but focus of the research is on the structural applications of the material in tall buildings. The research provides information about the use of CFRP as a structural material in tall buildings. The results of this study offer significant insights about the issues of connectivity and constructability related to use of CFRP in tall buildings. This research also provides a parametric framework for architects and designers to evaluate and study the performance of a structural materials to be used in tall building structural systems using finite element analysis.
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