RESEARCH ON NONLINEAR MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE OF CONE-STRAIGHT TRANSITION SECTION STRUCTURE OF HYBRID WIND TURBINE-TOWERS

Zhang Yuhong; Zhao Fan; Yang Yang; Yu Guangming; Deng Fei; Liu Jin

doi:10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2024-2428

PDF(6201 KB)

Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (5) : 314-323. DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2024-2428

RESEARCH ON NONLINEAR MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE OF CONE-STRAIGHT TRANSITION SECTION STRUCTURE OF HYBRID WIND TURBINE-TOWERS

Zhang Yuhong¹, Zhao Fan², Yang Yang³, Yu Guangming⁴, Deng Fei¹, Liu Jin¹

Author information +

History +

Abstract

With the increasing hub height of wind turbines, traditional uniform-tapered conical towers face challenges in cost-effectiveness and structural stability. Assembled hybrid tower structures incorporating conical-cylindrical transition segments present a potential solution to these issues. However, the abrupt cross-sectional changes and stress concentrations at transition segments may lead to material plastic deformation and joint detach under extreme loading conditions. This study investigates a 150 m onshore wind turbine hybrid tower project, establishing a integral finite element model of the assembled hybrid tower and a sub-model of the conical-cylindrical transition segment using ABAQUS software. The research focuses on analyzing the nonlinear mechanical behaviors of critical components, specifically concrete tower segments, reinforcement bars, and curved bolt connectors in transition zones under ultimate load conditions, as well as the nonlinear contact stress states at transverse and longitudinal joints. The results demonstrate significant stress abrupt changes at cross-sections within the transition zone, with decreasing bending bearing capacity coefficients observed in lower transition segments. Under ultimate loads, transverse joint disengagement occurs with a maximum disengaged cross-sectional area ratio of 40.6%. Concrete at disengaged joint edges exhibits notable plastic characteristics, showing a maximum tensile damage factors up to 0.689 in localized regions. The ultimate load factor for the transition segment was determined to be 1.286. This study recommends implementing enhanced measures to improve the safety factor in conical-cylindrical transition segments during tower design.

Key words

wind turbines / assembled-mixed-tower / conical-cylindrical transition segments / nonlinear mechanical properties / contact state / finite element analysis

Cite this article

EndNote

Ris (Procite)

Bibtex

Download Citations

Zhang Yuhong, Zhao Fan, Yang Yang, Yu Guangming, Deng Fei, Liu Jin. RESEARCH ON NONLINEAR MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE OF CONE-STRAIGHT TRANSITION SECTION STRUCTURE OF HYBRID WIND TURBINE-TOWERS[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica. 2026, 47(5): 314-323 https://doi.org/10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2024-2428

References

[1] 施豪杰. H140/UHPC风电预应力装配式塔筒承载性能分析[D]. 哈尔滨: 哈尔滨工业大学, 2021.
SHI H J.Load-capacity analysis for prestressed prefabricated H140/UHPC wind turbine tower[D]. Harbin: Harbin Institute of Technology, 2021.
[2] 丛欧, 李金威, 汪彦辰. 预制装配式钢-混凝土组合式风机塔架关键部位受力性能研究[J]. 西北水电, 2023(2): 86-90, 99.
CONG O, LI J W, WANG Y C.Mechanical performance of key parts for prefabricated steel-concrete wind turbine tower[J]. Northwest hydropower, 2023(2): 86-90, 99.
[3] 陈俊岭, 高洁, 赵邦州, 等. 风电机组钢塔架与钢-混凝土组合塔架动力响应对比分析[J]. 太阳能学报, 2023, 44(3): 225-231.
CHEN J L, GAO J, ZHAO B Z, et al.Comprehensive analysis of dynamic response of steel and steel-concrete combined wind turbine towers[J]. Acta energiae solaris sinica, 2023, 44(3): 225-231.
[4] 陈俊岭, 何欣恒, 丛欧. 基于改进遗传算法的钢-混组合式风电机组塔架优化设计研究[J]. 太阳能学报, 2021, 42(7): 359-365.
CHEN J L, HE X H, CONG O.Design optimization of steel-concrete hybrid wind turbine tower based on improved genetic algorithm[J]. Acta energiae solaris sinica, 2021, 42(7): 359-365.
[5] 齐炳越. 基于差分进化算法的预应力混凝土-钢组合结构风电塔架优化研究[D]. 西安: 长安大学, 2023.
QI B Y.Differential evolutionary algorithm based optimization of pre-stressed concrete-steel combined structure wind turbine tower[D]. Xi'an: Changan University, 2023.
[6] YUE Y C, TIAN J J, MU Q Y, et al.Feasibility of segmented concrete in wind turbine tower: numerical studies on its mechanical performance[J]. International journal of damage mechanics, 2021, 30(4): 518-536.
[7] DE LANA J A, ALMEIDA MAGALHÃES JÚNIOR P A, ALMEIDA MAGALHÃES C, et al. Behavior study of prestressed concrete wind-turbine tower in circular cross-section[J]. Engineering structures, 2021, 227: 111403.
[8] KENNA A, BASU B.Damage detection in wind turbine towers using a finite element model and discrete wavelet transform of strain signals[J]. Journal of physics: conference series, 2015, 628(1): 012067.
[9] 梁睿. 风电机组混凝土塔筒受力机理及模型试验研究[D]. 郑州: 华北水利水电大学, 2019.
LIANG R.Research on the mechanism of stress and model test of concrete tower of wind turbine[D]. Zhengzhou: North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, 2019.
[10] 王磊, 宋龙代, 颜海燕, 等. 钢筋连续性对钢-混凝土混合式塔架结构性能的影响[J]. 石家庄铁道大学学报(自然科学版), 2020, 33(1): 1-6.
WANG L, SONG L D, YAN H Y, et al.Influence of continuity of steel bars between the segments on structural performance of the steel-concrete hybrid wind turbine tower[J]. Journal of Shijiazhuang Tiedao University (natural science edition), 2020, 33(1): 1-6.
[11] 张庆天. H160/UHPC风电预应力装配式混合塔筒受力性能分析[D]. 哈尔滨: 哈尔滨工业大学, 2021.
ZHANG Q T.Mechanical behavior analysis of H160/UHPC pre-stressed assembled hybrid wind turbine tower[D]. Harbin: Harbin Institute of Technology, 2021.
[12] 谢冰冰, 褚景春, 袁凌, 等. 风电机组装配式超高钢混塔筒刚度鲁棒性分析[J]. 可再生能源, 2022, 40(2): 196-202.
XIE B B, CHU J C, YUAN L, et al.Stiffness robustness analysis of ultra-high steel concrete prefabricated tower with wind turbine[J]. Renewable energy resources, 2022, 40(2): 196-202.
[13] 张曼生, 张国军, 黄威振, 等. 预应力装配式高耸风电塔架受力性能研究[J]. 建筑结构学报, 2022, 43(5): 62-78.
ZHANG M S, ZHANG G J, HUANG W Z, et al.Study on mechanical performance of pre-stressed assembled towering wind tower[J]. Journal of building structures, 2022, 43(5): 62-78.
[14] 师振贵, 王云超, 黄赐荣, 等. 干式连接装配式风电混塔非线性特征研究[J]. 太阳能学报, 2024, 45(6): 564-571.
SHI Z G, WANG Y C, HUANG C R, et al.Research on nonlinear characteristics of dry-connectedprefabricated wind turbine hybrid tower[J]. Acta energiae solaris sinica, 2024, 45(6): 564-571.
[15] 王宇航, 周绪红, 杨琳, 等. 风电机组支撑结构技术发展现状及趋势[J]. 钢结构(中英文), 2024, 39(10): 1-13.
WANG Y H, ZHOU X H, YANG L, et al.Current status and development trend of supporting structures for wind turbines[J]. Steel construction, 2024, 39(10): 1-13.
[16] GB/T 18451.1—2022, 风力发电机组设计要求[S].
GB/T 18451.1—2022, Wind energy generation systems—design requirements[S].
[17] 何正文. 风力机塔筒结构仿生设计及动态特性研究[D]. 兰州: 兰州理工大学, 2023.
HE Z W.Investigate on the bionic structural design and dynamic characteristics of wind turbine tower[D]. Lanzhou: Lanzhou University of Technology, 2023.
[18] T/CEC5008—2018, 风力发电机组预应力装配式混凝土塔筒技术规范[S].
T/CEC5008—2018, Code of prestressed precast concrete tower for wind turbine[S].