Aerodynamics and Aeroelasticity – course

The general course objective is to learn and implement the basic models used inside a full commercial aeroelastic code for load estimations on a wind turbine. This includes a coupling between unsteady rotor aerodynamics and a dynamic structural model of the wind turbine.

The participant will implement a simple aeroelastic model of a wind turbine in a numerical framework (e.g. Matlab or Python) that couples a simple structural model with an unsteady aerodynamic rotor model.

The participant will also implement a basic controller and simulate the response of a wind turbine during normal operation.

Learning objectives

After completing this course, the participant is able to:

• Implement an unsteady Blade Element Momentum method to model the aerodynamic forces on a rotor.
• Describe and implement a dynamic wake/inflow model in the unsteady aerodynamic model.
• Describe and implement unsteady 2-D aerodynamics in the unsteady aerodynamic model.
• Describe and derive how the atmospheric turbulent inflow excites the rotor structure and leads to the turbine load.
• Describe alternative aerodynamic models for rotors.
• Couple the unsteady aerodynamic model with a simple structural model.
• Implement a basic wind turbine controller.
• Simulate and describe the static and dynamic response and loads on a turbine.