Load estimation of a wind turbine support structure during operation and validation

Abstract

In this study, numerical simulation for the load estimation on the support structures during the operation of wind turbine was validated by measurement and the load characteristics of the support structure were investigated. The simulation shows good agreement with the measurement in terms of fore-aft tower base moment. The fore-aft moment on the tower shows maximum value at rated wind speed at the base of the tower, while at the tower top, the maximum load is observed at the cut-out wind speed. This is because the fore-aft moment is dominated by the thrust force on the rotor at the tower base while dominated by the moment on the rotor at the tower top.