Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Thus, the solutions correspond to small motions about a prestressed state. Aeroelastic
effects ( i.e. , aerodynamic loading caused by structural motions) have not been included in
this analysis. While strongly influencing the aerodynamic stability of a VAWT [ e.g.,
Popelka 1982], aeroelasticity seems to have little effect on the natural frequencies and
modes of the turbine.
Eigenvalue Solution
Obtaining mode shapes and frequencies from Equation (11-44) involves solving what
is known as a characteristic-value problem , which has the standard form
a 11 x 1 + a 12 x 2 + + a 1 n x n = w x 1
a 21 x 1 + a 22 x 2 + + a 2 n x n = w x 2
. ... .... ... ... ...
a n 1 x 1 + a n 2 x 2 + ¼ + a nn x n = w x n
é
ê ë
(11-45)
where, for our modal analysis problem
n = number of degrees of freedom; number of finite elements times three
displacement components per element
X j ...x n = eigenvector or characteristic vector ; defines one mode shape
w = eigenvalue or characteristic value ; defines one modal frequency (rad/s)
Each non-trivial solution of this characteristic-value problem has an eigenvector and a
corresponding eigenvalue, and the set of eigenvector/eigenvalue pairs comprises the results
of a theoretical modal analysis of our structural system. Modes are usually presented in
ascending order of frequency, from the lowest or fundamental mode to the highest fre-
quency of interest. The latter seldom needs to exceed ten times the maximum rotational
speed of the turbine (10 P ).
To find the eigenvalues of the system of equations represented by Equation (11-44),
it is more convenient to use state vectors instead of the displacements u. Hence, we will
introduce the state vector
u
- - -
u
é
ê ë
(11-46a)
v =
and the matrices
M | 0
- - | - -
0 | K
é
ê é ê ë
A =
(11-46b)
C | K
- - | - -
- K | 0
B =
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