A modular multibody aeroelastic framework for offshore wind turbines.

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Title: A modular multibody aeroelastic framework for offshore wind turbines.
Authors: Aryan, N.1 (AUTHOR), Testa, C.1 (AUTHOR), Greco, L.1 (AUTHOR) luca.greco@cnr.it
Source: Ocean Engineering. Jul2026:Part 4, Vol. 362, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Horizontal axis wind turbines, Multibody systems, Offshore wind power plants, Structural analysis (Engineering), Aerodynamics, Fluid-structure interaction
Abstract: This work presents a modular two-way multibody-based aeroelastic formulation for offshore horizontal-axis wind turbines. An extended Blade Element Momentum Theory aerodynamics, able to capture inflow-angle variations, wake skewing and platform-motion-induced effects, is interfaced to a structural solver that represents each blade as a chain of spanwise-discretized generalized beam elements. Within the Simulink/Simscape-Multibody™ framework, beam elements are connected by rotational joints describing flapwise, lagwise, and torsional motions, yielding an efficient, dynamically consistent representation of blade flexibility. The resulting body-chain dynamics is governed by the Maggi equations expressed in an inertial frame, where small relative rotations at each joint accumulate to reproduce potentially large global deformations (if any). Drawbacks and advantages of the proposed approach are evaluated using two wind turbines of increasing size – the NREL 5 MW and the IEA 15 MW – in both bottom-fixed configurations under various operating conditions, and floating configurations with prescribed platform motion. Detailed comparisons with established aeroelastic solvers, largely used in the wind-energy community, highlight capabilities and boundaries of the formulation, with particular attention to the role of Blade Element Momentum aerodynamics for aeroelastic purposes, which remains widely adopted in industrial applications. Numerical results show a greater influence of the aerodynamic modeling on simulation accuracy than the specific structural representation used, and the very good agreement with aerodynamic and aeroelastic predictions coming from higher-fidelity solvers, whenever design and weakly off-design conditions are encountered. For both bottom-fixed and floating turbines, a dedicated discussion of performance and elastic blade displacements is provided throughout the paper, linking the numerical behavior to the underlying physical phenomena associated with each operating condition to enhance understanding of the system response. Validation studies herein addressed make the paper a robust benchmark suitable for industrial use in early-stage wind turbine design. • Aerodynamics and aeroelasticity of fixed/floating wind turbine rotors are assessed. • The formulation captures unsteady performance and blade flexibility in fixed rotors. • Rotor loads and tip displacements are captured under controlled surge/pitch motions. • Severe unsteady, 3D, stall and vortex-ring-state conditions exceed model limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Ocean Engineering is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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DbLabel: Engineering Source
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  Data: A modular multibody aeroelastic framework for offshore wind turbines.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Aryan%2C+N%2E%22">Aryan, N.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Testa%2C+C%2E%22">Testa, C.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Greco%2C+L%2E%22">Greco, L.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> luca.greco@cnr.it</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Ocean+Engineering%22">Ocean Engineering</searchLink>. Jul2026:Part 4, Vol. 362, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Horizontal+axis+wind+turbines%22">Horizontal axis wind turbines</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Multibody+systems%22">Multibody systems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Offshore+wind+power+plants%22">Offshore wind power plants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Structural+analysis+%28Engineering%29%22">Structural analysis (Engineering)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Aerodynamics%22">Aerodynamics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fluid-structure+interaction%22">Fluid-structure interaction</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This work presents a modular two-way multibody-based aeroelastic formulation for offshore horizontal-axis wind turbines. An extended Blade Element Momentum Theory aerodynamics, able to capture inflow-angle variations, wake skewing and platform-motion-induced effects, is interfaced to a structural solver that represents each blade as a chain of spanwise-discretized generalized beam elements. Within the Simulink/Simscape-Multibody™ framework, beam elements are connected by rotational joints describing flapwise, lagwise, and torsional motions, yielding an efficient, dynamically consistent representation of blade flexibility. The resulting body-chain dynamics is governed by the Maggi equations expressed in an inertial frame, where small relative rotations at each joint accumulate to reproduce potentially large global deformations (if any). Drawbacks and advantages of the proposed approach are evaluated using two wind turbines of increasing size – the NREL 5 MW and the IEA 15 MW – in both bottom-fixed configurations under various operating conditions, and floating configurations with prescribed platform motion. Detailed comparisons with established aeroelastic solvers, largely used in the wind-energy community, highlight capabilities and boundaries of the formulation, with particular attention to the role of Blade Element Momentum aerodynamics for aeroelastic purposes, which remains widely adopted in industrial applications. Numerical results show a greater influence of the aerodynamic modeling on simulation accuracy than the specific structural representation used, and the very good agreement with aerodynamic and aeroelastic predictions coming from higher-fidelity solvers, whenever design and weakly off-design conditions are encountered. For both bottom-fixed and floating turbines, a dedicated discussion of performance and elastic blade displacements is provided throughout the paper, linking the numerical behavior to the underlying physical phenomena associated with each operating condition to enhance understanding of the system response. Validation studies herein addressed make the paper a robust benchmark suitable for industrial use in early-stage wind turbine design. • Aerodynamics and aeroelasticity of fixed/floating wind turbine rotors are assessed. • The formulation captures unsteady performance and blade flexibility in fixed rotors. • Rotor loads and tip displacements are captured under controlled surge/pitch motions. • Severe unsteady, 3D, stall and vortex-ring-state conditions exceed model limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Ocean Engineering is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2026.126419
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 1
        StartPage: N.PAG
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Horizontal axis wind turbines
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Multibody systems
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Offshore wind power plants
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Structural analysis (Engineering)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Aerodynamics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fluid-structure interaction
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: A modular multibody aeroelastic framework for offshore wind turbines.
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            NameFull: Aryan, N.
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            NameFull: Testa, C.
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            NameFull: Greco, L.
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            – D: 28
              M: 07
              Text: Jul2026:Part 4
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 362
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