A numerical structural analysis of ducted, high-solidity, fibre-composite tidal turbine rotor configurations in real flow conditions

Borg, Mitchell G. and Xiao, Qing and Allsop, Steven and Incecik, Atilla and Peyrard, Christophe (2021) A numerical structural analysis of ducted, high-solidity, fibre-composite tidal turbine rotor configurations in real flow conditions. Ocean Engineering, 233. 109087. ISSN 0029-8018 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2021.109087)

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Abstract

Establishing a design and material evaluation of unique tidal turbine rotors in true hydrodynamic conditions by means of a numerical structural analysis has presented inadequacies in implementing spatial and temporal loading along the blade surfaces. This study puts forward a structural performance investigation of true-scale, ducted, high-solidity, fibre-composite tidal turbine rotor configurations in aligned and yawed flows by utilising outputs from unsteady blade-resolved computational fluid dynamic models as boundary condition loads within a finite-element numerical model. In implementation of the partitioned-approach fluid–structure interaction procedure, three distinct internal blade designs were analysed. Investigating criteria related to structural deformation and induced strains, hydrostatic & hydrodynamic analyses are put forward in representation of the rotor within the flow conditions at the installation depth. The resultant axial deflections for the proposed designs describe a maximum deflection-to-bladespan ratio of 0.04, inducing a maximum strain of 0.9%. A fatigue response analysis is undertaken to acknowledge the blade material properties required to prevent temporal failure.

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