Curved Wind Turbine Support Struts for Load Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support structures for wind turbines, particularly offshore, face challenges in uniformly distributing the increased weight and wind loads across the foundation, leading to potential material failure and increased maintenance needs due to larger turbine dimensions and weights.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates inclined support struts with arcuately curved sections connected by plate-shaped elements, forming force transmission nodes that evenly distribute forces across multiple struts, preventing excessive stress and material failure, and includes stiffening elements to prevent buckling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If wind turbine dimensions and weight are increased to generate more energy, then energy output is improved, but the weight force and wind loads on the support structure increase, leading to non-uniform force distribution and potential material failure
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple support struts (at least three, preferably four) that are distributed around the central axis. Each strut independently carries a portion of the vertical weight force and wind-induced moment, converting a single overloaded element into multiple shared load-bearing elements. This segmentation allows the structure to handle increased turbine weights while maintaining uniform force distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The support struts feature arcuately curved strut sections with specific radius of curvature, transitioning from straight sections to curved sections and back to straight sections. This curvature optimizes the structural response to wind-induced moments by distributing stresses more evenly along the strut length, preventing stress concentration at connection points and improving overall structural reliability under increased loads.
2Device complexity
If support struts are made straight and simple, then device complexity is reduced, but force distribution from the upper end becomes non-uniform, causing excessive stress on certain struts
Solution Approach 1:
Arcuately curved strut sections are introduced into the support struts, with the curvature radius specifically designed to optimize force distribution. The curved sections act as force transmission nodes that evenly distribute moments and shear forces from the upper tower connection down to the lower foundation connections, ensuring uniform stress distribution while maintaining structural efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The strut configuration transitions from purely straight to a combination of straight and curved sections with specific geometric parameters (radius of curvature, length ratios). This parameter change optimizes the structural response to combined vertical and lateral loads, achieving uniform force distribution without excessive complexity.
3Strength
If support struts are inclined at an angle to vertical, then force distribution and moment absorption are improved, but the structural complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each support strut is segmented into straight sections and curved sections, with the curved sections providing the necessary inclination and moment-resisting capability. This segmentation allows the inclined configuration to be achieved through standardized modular components, improving manufacturability while maintaining the strength benefits of inclination for moment absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The arcuately curved sections are designed with specific radius and length parameters that balance the need for moment absorption capacity with manufacturing feasibility. The curvature provides the mechanical advantage for moment resistance while the standardized geometric parameters facilitate fabrication and assembly.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a support structure (1), in particular for onshore and/or offshore wind turbines, comprising a first end (2), which is the lower end during operation and faces a base holding the support structure, and a second upper end (4) arranged opposite the first end, and a plurality of support struts (6, 6') which extend substantially from the lower end to the upper end of the support structure and during operation are inclined at an angle relative to a vertical, the support struts (6, 6') having a plurality of arcuate curved strut portions (8, 8'), and two support struts (6, 6') arranged adjacent to one another in the region of their curved strut portions (8, 8') are connected to one another by means of at least one planar connecting element (18, 36, 36').