Bifurcation theory as applied to nonlinear aeroelastics of wind turbine blades.

This research will explore whether the low-order geometrically exact modelling approach can adequately represent the complex dynamics of a slender wind turbine blade, under different operating scenarios. Furthermore, it will investigate the extent to which unsteady aerodynamics, including dynamic stall phenomena, play a role in turbine aeroelastic behaviour, and how to best represent this in a reduced order model. In parallel, a methodology will be developed, allowing the translation of three-dimensional high-fidelity models to a low order representation, via geometrically and structurally representative parametric functions. Then, depending on parameters, delineating a global dynamical picture via numerical continuation and bifurcation analysis. This research will thus provide a rapid method to inform high-fidelity modelling, reducing the design space over which optimisation is carried out, ultimately reducing development costs.