Validated Mesh Motion Numerical Study of a Rotating Wind Turbine Blade Segment

This study accurately simulates a rotating wind turbine blade segment using an unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes model with physical mesh motion. This method is necessary to analyze transient inflow conditions such as yaw misalignment, wind shear, and gusts, which reduce blade lifespan. The simulation results were validated against experimental blade pressure distribution data across two tip speed ratios of 4.2 and 3.5, at Reynolds numbers of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively. Radial flow of 3% of the total velocity magnitude located downstream of the stagnation point may have contributed to a larger suction peak with an altered angle of attack (AOA). A novel “nodal method” was proposed for the standardized calculation of AOA for a rotating blade, which resulted in a 3.2 deg larger AOA than geometric approximations using freestream and rotation velocity. A comparison of pressure distributions for the nodal AOA to the equivalent 2D AOA is in agreement, showing evidence that the nodal method captures suction peak differences caused by rotational effects. This study is a major step in the development of a blade-resolved numerical method capable of analyzing complex transient inflows, which is necessary for improved blade design and the implementation of active control surfaces.