Turkish Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation; 32(3)

ISSN 2651-4451 | e-ISSN 2651-446X

INVESTIGATION OF VIBRATION ANALYSIS OF HORIZONTAL AXIS WIND

TURBINE BLADE (NREL 5-MW)

Mahir H. Majeed1, Enas A. Khazem2, Oday I. Abdullah2,3,4, Josef Schlattmann3,

Zaure B. Rakisheva4
1
Al Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, Iraq
2
Department of Energy Eng., College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Iraq
3
System Technologies and Engineering Design Methodology, Hamburg University of Technology,
Germany
4
Department of Mechanics, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan
2
[email protected]

ABSTRACT

In recent years, there has been a great and rapid development in the field of clean energy (solar, wind, etc.)
production in various countries of the world. Where in the field of wind energy, researches have focused on
improving the design of the wind turbine and raising its efficiency to maximum possible value, in addition to
increasing the lifetime of the wind turbine and improving the performance. Owing to the importance of wind
turbine blade of wind turbine. So, it’s important to understanding deeply the dynamic behaviour of turbine
blades. This work presents the developed numerical solution based on finite element method to investigate the
vibration characteristics (natural frequencies and mode shapes) of NREL 5-MW offshore upwind horizontal
axis wind turbine blade. It was used SOLIDWORKS 2020 software to build the 3-dimensional model of the
wind turbine blade and then exported to to ANSYS/ Workbench 2020 to find the numerical solution. It has
been investigated the thickness of the blade, where it was selected four values of thickness which are (20, 30,
40 and 50 mm). Also, it was investigated the effect of materials on the dynamic response, and it was selected
four different materials which are composite, Titanium Alloy, Aluminium 2024 and Aluminium alloy. It was
found that thickness is considered the most significant factor on the dynamic behaviour of the wind blade.
Where, the percentage of increases in the natural frequency exceeds 15%.

Keywords: free vibration analysis, natural frequency, mode shape, wind turbine blade.

I. INTRODUCTION
Wind energy is can be considered one of the main energy sources (renewable), where it can be extracted the energy
from the wind and converted to Kinetic energy. Where it can be converted into electricity power by using the wind
turbines. Where, the wind energy does not have negative effect on the surrounding environment such as pollution
and carbon dioxide. So, there are many advantages of using this kind of energy and also on the other hand there are
disadvantages. The main advantages are the wind energy is free without pollution such as traditional power stations
(nuclear, fossils, etc.). Inexpensive relatively, where it can be established the Wind farm with large scale during
some weeks.

Where, the disadvantages of wind energy are: this kind of energy cannot supply the transport sectors, and this lead
that the transportation sectors to use only the oil products. The other disadvantage of the wind energy is different
from season to another due to the variations in the wind speed, that is sometimes less than of the design criterion.
Also, there is a noise problem of the wind turbines that can be very effective and could disturb the living people
around the wind fields, and in order to decrease this noise its optimal to establish wind fields in appropriate areas
that far enough from residential areas [1].

Vibration analysis is a very suitable method when it comes to analysing causes of a structure dynamic. Where, it
can be obtained the full details of dynamic characteristics of the wind turbine and each blade as well. It can be

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ISSN 2651-4451 | e-ISSN 2651-446X

considered the materials of the blades have great effect on the aerodynamic behaviour and the also on the dynamic
characteristics [2].

Mandell and Samborsky [3] studied the vibrations analysis of a rotating composites blade. It was assumed that the
blade is thick opened cylindrical shells. It was including the transverse shear deformation and rotatory inertia. It
was used finite element method to find the solution of the dynamic problem of wind turbine blade. It was
investigated many parameters such as twisting angles, layer lamination, thicknesses to radius ratio, and orientation
of fibre for the materials of the blades. Where this paper focused on the effect of centrifugal force on the natural
frequency of blade. The maximum frequencies occurred at the highest rotating speed.

Park at el. [4] investigated the steady-state problem of rotating wind turbine blade to find the solution of the
vibration problem and to avoid resonance issue. It was developed a new numerical modal of rotating blade to find
the natural frequencies and mode shapes. It was concluded that the centrifugal force has remarkable effect on the
structural stiffness.

Kumara at el. [5] introduced a new type of material to manufacture the blades of wind turbine. Al (Aluminium)
2024 was selected to apply the numerical analysis. Owing to the complex of geometries of wind blade, it was used
Finite element method. The results presented the full description of vibration solution of the wind turbine (natural
frequencies and modes shapes). Also, it was calculated the von-Mises stress, maximum principal stresses,
deformations of the wind blade. The first step is to build the 3 dimensional model of wind turbine blade using Solid
Edge software and then exported this model ANSYS software for the numerical analysis. The numerical results
were validating with experimental work.

Meenakshi and Krishnamoorthy [6] studied free vibration analysis of 1.5-MW wind turbine blades for different
composite materials. It was used Jute Fiber Epoxy, Glass Fiber Epoxy and Sisal Fiber Epoxy to find the dynamic
characteristics. It was used NASTRAN software to build the numerical model of the wind turbine blade. The static
and dynamic finite element analyses were achieved to obtain the numerical solution of the rotating wind blade. The
results presented the full detail about the dynamic characteristics of the wind blade and it was found the optima
material for the blade is fiber reinforced.

Also, there are many other researchers who have used different numerical methods in designing and studying
different types of wind turbine blades, where it was used different types of analysis such as static, dynamic and
vibration [7-12].

In this research paper, it was developed a new numerical models of wind turbine blade NREL 5-MW in order to
study the dynamic characteristics. It was applied the finite element method to compute the natural frequencies and
mode shapes of the wind blade using ANSYS and Workbench softwares. Also, it was investigated, the effect of
thickness of wind blade on the dynamic characteristics. Therefore, it was used four different thicknesses for blade
which are (20, 30, 40 and 50 mm). Furthermore, it was investigated the effect of materials on the dynamic response
of the wind turbine blade. Four different materials were selected which are Structural Composite, Titanium alloy,
Aluminium 2024 and Aluminium alloy.Figure1 shows the real 1.5-MW WindPACT turbine that consists of three
blades (horizontal axis).

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Figure 1. Wind turbine (WindPACT 1.5-MW) [13].

Wind Turbine Blade Modelling

The first step is to build the three dimensional model of the wind turbine blade, where it was used the SOLIDWORK
2020 software to achieve this task. The length of blade is 61 m and the diameter of rotor is 126 m. The thickness
of the external surfaces is considered change with the blade’s length. Where, the minimum thickness at the root of
blade (maximum thickness) and decreasing with length to the lowest magnitude at blade’s tip. Table 1 lists the
specifications and dimensions of NREL 5-MW wind turbine [13,14].

It was used SOLIDWORKS 2020 to build the wind turbine blade model, where it can be seen in Figure 2 the
aerofoils that selected to build the structure of the wind blade. After completing the drawing of the circles and
aerofoils sections, there are different types of aerofoils used in this design of blade, away from the root of blade the
cylinder is smoothly mixed into a series of DU (Delft University) aerofoils. At the 44.55 m position away from the
root the NACA64 (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) profile was used up to the tip of the wind blade.
The axis's of each aerofoil of the model can be obtained from the aerofoil tool website (axis’s- specific type of
aerofoils). These data entered into solid work in the form of curves through (x y z) planes with the distance must
be set to separate planes from each other as shown in Figure (2b). After completing stages of drawing the aerofoils,
it was build the surfaces of the blade to make 3D model. Figure 3 shows the final shape of NREL 5-MW turbine
blade.

Figure 2. Cylinders and airfoils drawing for NREL 5-MW wind turbine blade

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ISSN 2651-4451 | e-ISSN 2651-446X

Figure 3. The 3D model of NREL 5-MW HAWT blade

Table1.Dimensions and operational conditions of NREL 5-MW HAWT

Power (Rating) 5 MW

Diameter of Rotor 126 m

Height of Hub 90 m
Maximum angular speed of rotor 12.1 rpm
Hub overhang 5m
Diameter of Tower base 6m

Numerical Simulation
In this work, the finite element technique was applied to achieve the vibration analysis to the blade of wind turbine.
The model of the turbine blade which built using SOLIDWORK 2020, in the next step it was exported the 3D
model to ANSYS Workbench software for the applying the boundary conditions. Final step is numerical analysis
to obtain the results for each case.

Figure 4 shows the boundary condition of the wind turbine blade. Where the blade is fixed at the root and free at
the tip. It can be seen the materials properties of the selected material in Table 2. Before starting with obtain the
numerical results, it was achieved the mesh independence test, in order to get the most optimal mesh of the wind
blade that will use in all further analyses. It was selected the quadrilateral element type to build the finite element
model of the wind blade. After achieved the mesh independence test, it was found that the optimalfinite element
model of the wind blade has 10376 elements. Figure 5 illustrates the optimal finite element model that used in all
numerical analyses.

In modal analysis (vibration), the stiffness and mass of the structure are the main requirement to find the solution
of the modal problem. Where, the modal analysis of any structure is implemented to determine the shape modes
and natural frequencies. In modal analysis the boundary condition is fixed support provided on the hub bottom
surface to the wind turbine blade model. The equation of motion of the free vibration problem can be written as
following [15],

 }+[K]{U}=0
[M]{ U (1)

 } is acceleration
Where [K] is the matrix stiffness, [M] is matrix of mass, {U} is the displacement vector and { U
vector.

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ISSN 2651-4451 | e-ISSN 2651-446X

Table2. Material properties of blade’s materials [9]

Density Modulus of Elasticity

Materials Poisson ratio
(Kg/𝒎𝟑 ) (GPa)
Composite material 2570 72 0.2
Titanium alloy 4620 960 0.36
Aluminum 2024 2780 73 0.33
Aluminum alloy 2770 77 0.33

Figure 4.The boundary condition of the wind turbine blade

Figure 5.The finite element model of 5-MW wind turbine blade

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II. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The natural frequencies and modes shapes of the NREL 5-MW horizontal axis wind turbine blade

were presented. Four Structural different materials were selected, which are Composite, Titanium Alloy,
Aluminium 2024 and Aluminium alloy. Also, four different thicknesses were selected to achieve the numerical
analysis (20, 30, 40 and 50 mm).

The results based on the new finite element model are showed in Tables 3, where it was compared the results with
the results of Ref. [19]. Table 3 shows that themaximum error not exceeds 3.7 %. This table shows the maxim Von-
Mises Stress and Total Deformation.

Table 3. Verification test of stress and deformation of wind turbine blade

(Steel material with 30mm thickness)

Present Work Ref. [19] %Difference

Von-Mises Stress [MPa] 0.761 0.792 3.7

Total Deformation
1.02 1.043 2.2
[mm]

Tables 4-7 list the first tenth natural frequencies of wind turbine blade using different materials (Composite,
Titanium Alloy, Aluminium 2024 and Aluminium alloy) and four different thicknesses (20, 30, 40 and 50 mm).

The last fifth mode shapes of theoptimal case of wind blade model (using composite material at 20 mm thickness)
can be seen in Figures 6-10.

Figures 11-14 illustrate the variations of natural frequencies (first fifth natural frequencies) with the thickness of
wind turbine blade for each selected material that used in this simulation. It can be observed that when the thickness
of blade increased the values of natural frequencies also increased because of the structural stiffness is increased
also. Where the effect of structural stiffness is higher than the mass effect.

Also It can be noticed that the values of mode shapes and natural frequencies when using structural composite
material is less than when using other types of materials, because of the composite material has higher structural
stiffness. Where, the structural stiffness is a function of the geometry and properties of material such as density (ρ)
and modulus of elasticity (E). Therefore, the compensation of effect of thickness and the materials will specify the
magnitude of the natural frequency of the wind turbine blade.

Table 4. Values of natural frequencies of wind blade using composite material

Thickness
Mode shape
20mm 30mm 40mm 50mm
st
1 0.40867 0.42772 0.446 0.4605
2nd 1.2621 1.2328 1.2274 1.2274
3rd 1.599 1.6356 1.6713 1.7019
4th 3.718 3.9326 4.017 4.0678
5th 4.5679 5.2874 5.3468 5.3707
6th 5.4461 6.8188 7.2522 7.4467
7th 5.9059 7.3754 8.9668 9.7949
8th 6.4206 8.9896 10.438 10.953
9th 7.5011 9.5916 11.076 11.99
10th 7.655 10.63 11.97 13.685

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Table 5. Values of natural frequencies of wind blade using Ti alloy material

Thickness
Mode shape
20mm 30mm 40mm 50mm
st
1 1.1745 1.2283 1.2799 1.3207
2nd 3.6133 3.527 3.5104 3.5097
3rd 4.5772 4.6809 4.7826 4.8698
4th 10.657 11.246 11.48 11.622
5th 13.251 15.119 15.275 15.339
6th 15.638 19.561 20.736 21.271
7th 17.024 21.322 25.655 27.798
8th 18.597 25.933 29.93 31.314
9th 21.743 27.581 31.921 34.333
10th 22.112 30.727 34.409 39.561
Table 6. Values of natural frequencies of wind blade using Al 2024 material

Thickness
Mode shape
20mm 30mm 40mm 50mm
st
1 0.41613 0.43537 0.45382 0.46845
2nd 1.2828 1.2526 1.2469 1.2468
3rd 1.6251 1.6621 1.6983 1.7294
4th 3.7811 3.9949 4.0794 4.1305
5th 4.6721 5.3711 5.429 5.4525
6th 5.5428 6.9372 7.3665 7.5604
7th 6.0223 7.5308 9.1105 9.9119
8th 6.5616 9.1692 10.617 11.125
9th 7.6687 9.7689 11.292 12.188
10th 7.8133 10.855 12.188 13.973

Table 7. Values of natural frequenciesof windblade using Al alloy material

Thickness
Mode shape
20mm 30mm 40mm 50mm
st
1 0.42815 0.44794 0.46693 0.48198
2nd 1.3199 1.2888 1.2829 1.2828
3rd 1.672 1.7101 1.7474 1.7793
4th 3.8904 4.1102 4.1972 4.2498
5th 4.807 5.5262 5.5858 5.61
6th 5.7029 7.1376 7.5792 7.7788
7th 6.1962 7.7483 9.3736 10.198
8th 6.7511 9.434 10.923 11.446
9th 7.8902 10.051 11.618 12.54
10th 8.039 11.169 12.54 14.377

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Figure 6. 1st mode shape of wind blade Figure 7. 2nd mode shape of wind blade

Figure 8. 3rd mode shape of wind blade Figure 9. 4th mode shape of wind blade

Figure 10. 5th mode shape of wind blade

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Figure 11. Variation of natural frequencies with thickness of wind blade

(composite material)

Figure 12. Variation of natural frequencies with thickness of wind blade

(Ti alloy material)

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Figure 13: Variation of natural frequencies with thickness of wind blade

(AL 2024 material)

Figure 14. Variation of natural frequencies with thickness of wind blade

(AL alloy material)

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III. CONCLUSIONS AND REMARKS

In this work, it was used the finite element technique to study the dynamic behavior of the wind turbine blade
NREL 5-MW. Where, the vibration problem of the wind blade was investigated with details. It was developed 3-
Dimensional numerical model of wind blade using SOLIDWORKS 2020 softwareand then exported to ANSYS/
Workbench 2020 software to aaheive the numerical analysis to find the solution of vibration problem. In order to
study the effect of thickness of the blade, it was selected four different values of thicknesses of the wind turbine
blade.

It was found based on the numerical analysis that the natural frequencies of the blade that made of composite
material are less than the other blades that made of other type of materials. Where, the magnitude of the natural
frequencies is a function of combination of structural stiffness and the mass as the following E  . This research ( )
paper is presented a promising a numerical approach to investigate and analyze the vibrational problems of the
wind turbine blade.

There are other researchers [16-18] studied the effect of rotating speed on the frequencies and mode shapes of the
rotating blades. Where the centrifugal force has a great effect on the dynamic characteristics of the blades. This
topic will be studied extensively in subsequent researches.

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