Dynamic Structural Modelling of Wind Turbines Using COMSOL Multiphysics

C. Van der Woude, and S. Narasimhan
University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
Published in 2010

This paper presents a study of a wind turbine subjected to wind and seismic loading, carried out using COMSOL Multiphysics. The dynamic properties and response of wind turbine structures are of interest, as recent developments in wind energy have led to the design and construction of increasingly large and flexible turbine structures. A typical turbine structure model was created in COMSOL and transient simulations were carried out under wind and earthquake excitations. It was found that the structural responses due to seismic loads have significantly different characteristics from those due to wind loads, and warrant further study.