Analysis of vortex induced vibration on the hundred-meter wind turbine blade based on CFD and FEM

Abstract Along the development of wind turbine blade toward large size and light weight, the length of blade running-now has come to the level of hundred-meter, while the structure of blade trends to be flexible. During the shutdown conditions, blades are affected by wake vortex from different inflow speed and angle, which often induce blade vibration. It seriously affects the safety and service life of wind turbines, even may cause blade breakage accident. This paper focused on the vortex induced vibration on the hundred-meter wind turbine blade. Based on the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) transient method, the wake flow field of three relative thickness aerofoils has been simulated under different inflow speed and angle. The distribution of vorticity has been compared. Based on the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) method, the frequency of wake vortex has been analysed from the pressure pulsation, compared with the natural frequency of this hundred-meter blade calculated by the Finite Element Method (FEM). This result may be regarded as a simulation support to avoid vortex induced vibration of hundred-meter wind turbine blade.