Reliability of rotor blades of tidal stream turbines under extreme and fatigue loading

D. V. Val, D. Yurchenko, L. Chernin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Since tidal stream turbines are a new technology there are still no standards or other clear guidelines for their design in general and the design of their rotor blades in particular. There are two types of limit states that are of concern for the design of the rotor blades - ultimate and fatigue. The paper will consider how reliability issues can be addressed in the design in the context of both limit states. Loads acting on the rotor blades depend on the rotor orientation and a control system of the tidal stream turbine. In this paper only horizontal-axis pitch-controlled turbines will be considered. Uncertainties associated with tidal current velocities (mainly due to turbulence), the blade resistance and the model used to calculate internal forces in the blades will be taken into account in the reliability analysis. Based on results of the analysis, importance of each of the limit states for the design of rotor blades will be discussed. The paper will also demonstrate how results of the reliability analysis can be applied to derive values of the partial safety factors for the design of tidal turbine rotor blades. Finally, issues related to the assessment of the probability of fatigue failure of rotor blades are briefly considered.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSafety, Reliability, Risk and Life-Cycle Performance of Structures and Infrastructures - Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Structural Safety and Reliability, ICOSSAR 2013
EditorsGeorge Deodatis, Bruce R. Ellingwood, Dan M. Frangopol
PublisherCRC Press
ISBN (Print)9781138000865
Publication statusPublished - 2014
Event11th International Conference on Structural Safety and Reliability - New York, NY, United States
Duration: 16 Jun 201320 Jun 2013

Conference

Conference11th International Conference on Structural Safety and Reliability
Abbreviated titleICOSSAR 2013
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNew York, NY
Period16/06/1320/06/13

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality

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