TIME-DEPENDENT RELIABILITY EVOLUTION ANALYSIS OF FLANGE JOINTS IN TRUSS-TYPE WIND TURBINE SUPPORT STRUCTURES

Zhou Dong; Luo Yuxiao; Heng Junlin; Dai Kaoshan; Liu Yangzhao; Qiu Keyi

doi:10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2025-0432

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Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (7) : 212-221. DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2025-0432

TIME-DEPENDENT RELIABILITY EVOLUTION ANALYSIS OF FLANGE JOINTS IN TRUSS-TYPE WIND TURBINE SUPPORT STRUCTURES

Zhou Dong¹, Luo Yuxiao¹, Heng Junlin¹, Dai Kaoshan¹, Liu Yangzhao¹, Qiu Keyi²

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Abstract

To evaluate the time-dependent reliability evolution mechanism of flange joints in innovative truss-type wind turbine support structures under fatigue loads, this paper establishes a fatigue failure probability prediction model for high-strength bolts based on multi-physics coupled simulation. The effect of different bolt failure numbers on the ultimate bearing capacity of flange joints is analyzed. Considering the wind speed-direction joint distribution, the time-varying fatigue damage characteristics of high-strength bolts during service are quantified, and the evolutionary trend of structural failure probability for flange joints is predicted. The results show that the fatigue damage of connecting bolts in truss-type wind turbine flange joints accumulates continuously with service time, and the failure probability increases significantly after 15 years of service, leading to an obvious reduction in the overall bearing capacity of the joints. Combined with field measured wind data, a fatigue damage evaluation method suitable for truss-type wind turbine support structures is proposed, which reveals the influence law of cumulative bolt fatigue damage on the flange joint reliability and its time-dependent evolution of flange joints.

Key words

wind turbine support structure / high-strength bolt / failure probability / flange joint reliability / fatigue damage / wind speed-direction joint distribution

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Zhou Dong, Luo Yuxiao, Heng Junlin, Dai Kaoshan, Liu Yangzhao, Qiu Keyi. TIME-DEPENDENT RELIABILITY EVOLUTION ANALYSIS OF FLANGE JOINTS IN TRUSS-TYPE WIND TURBINE SUPPORT STRUCTURES[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica. 2026, 47(7): 212-221 https://doi.org/10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2025-0432

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