Contribution of high-fidelity fluid-structure coupling to the modelling of new generation wind turbines

Cost reduction strategies for wind energy are leading to the development of increasingly large wind turbines (today nearly 300m for the tallest), located in offshore environments with favorable wind conditions. Compared to smaller models, the blades of these large rotors deform significantly, especially when facing extreme events (high winds, emergency stops). Aeroelastic coupling effects are therefore becoming increasingly critical. However, most of the computational methods currently used for wind turbine design and certification are based on very simplified approaches, whose validity for highly deformable configurations is questionable. The objective of the thesis is therefore to explore numerically aeroelastic phenomena likely to be critical for these large structures, with an unprecedented level of detail. This will allow to set a new standard in terms of simulation and to improve the physical understanding of the phenomena at play.Due to the multidisciplinary aspect of this thesis, the work will be carried out in close collaboration with ONERA (French aerospace laboratory). As a first step, the PhD candidate will implement the calculation chain. To that aim, an IFPEN nonlinear structural mechanics code will be coupled to an ONERA high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics code, via a multiphysics coupling platform written in Python. Then, calculations of representative extreme-event scenarios will be carried out using high performance computing resources. This will allow the PhD candidate to analyze in detail the complex aero-structural phenomena and to assess the validity of lower-fidelity models currently used by the industry.

A detailed description of the subject is available here (in French): 
https://w3.onera.fr/formationparlarecherche/sites/w3.onera.fr.formationparlarecherche/files/mas-daaa-2022-14.pdf

Keywords: wind energy, aeroelasticity, high-fidelity computational fluid mechanics

• Academic supervisor    Dr. Xavier AMANDOLESE, LMSSC
• Doctoral School    SMI Sciences et Métiers de l'Ingénieur https://www.hesam.eu/smi
• IFPEN supervisor    Dr. Jean-Lou PFISTER, Solid mechanics department, jean-lou.pfister@ifpen.fr
• PhD location    ONERA (Châtillon, France) ; IFPEN (Rueil-Malmaison, France) ; CNAM (Paris, France)
• Duration and start date    3 years, starting in fourth quarter 2022
• Employer    ONERA, Châtillon, France
• Academic requirements    Master’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering
• Language requirements    Fluency in French or English, willingness to learn French