Stress and fatigue analyses under wind loading of the dual axis sun tracking system via finite element analysis

Khelifi, Ch.; Ferroudji, Fateh

doi:10.15282/jmes.10.2.2016.5.0189

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…In engineering, fatigue assessments are important when considering the stability of many different types of steel structures, specifically those exposed to varying loads, such as aerodynamic loads. The stress life, strain life, and crack initiation approaches are the methods most commonly employed for investigating the behaviour of engineering materials against fatigue criterion [18][19][20]. In this study, the stress life (S-N) method was employed to investigate the fatigue life of the solar tracker structure.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural Stability and Fatigue Assessments of Dual-Axis Solar Trackers Using Finite Elements Analysis

AL-Rashidi¹

2020

GEOMATE

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The use of advanced technologies to increase the amount of solar irradiance received, using solar tracking systems, is an important development that will enhance the efficiency of solar modules' ability to produce energy. However, solar trackers are vulnerable to failure or collapse, due to aerodynamic loads. This study analyses a dual-axis tracking model, using finite elements numerical modelling, to assess its structural stability and fatigue under static and cyclic loads. A rectangular solar tracker, with an area of 27.4 m² is investigated, using COMSOL Multiphysics 5.3 software. The results demonstrate that the maximum von Mises stress obtained is 92.51 MPa, which is less than the yield stress (200 MPa), and that the resulting safety value is 2.16. The maximum settlement obtained is 19 mm. In addition, the maximum usage fatigue factor obtained is 0.046. The study therefore concludes that the solar tracker structure satisfies the design requirements of the stability and fatigue criteria. Moreover, it concludes the ground concerned is stable, and exhibits only a slight amount of settlement that falls within the acceptable range, according to geotechnical engineering design.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural Stability and Fatigue Assessments of Dual-Axis Solar Trackers Using Finite Elements Analysis

AL-Rashidi¹

2020

GEOMATE

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“…In this analysis, the inertial and damping effects are ignored because they are not important. It is used when all the loads acting on the structure are applied very slowly and gradually (Khelifi and Ferroudji, 2016). Structural behavior of the mast structure is examined in terms of maximum shear stress (according to the von Mises yield criterion) and the mast-top deflection.…”

Section: Static Strength Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical simulations on static and dynamic response of full-scale mast structures for H-Darrieus wind turbine

2020

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Mast structure is one of the most important parts of a vertical-axis wind turbine which supports generator and rotor and represents one-third of the overall costs in the production of a standard wind turbine (approximately 30%). All this may cause significant economic and physical losses when it is damaged or collapsed. The purpose of this research is to investigate numerically the static strength and structural dynamic responses of 10-kW vertical-axis wind turbine masts subjected to the aerodynamic and gravity loadings (according to the IEC 61400-2:2006 and EN 1991-1-4:2005 standards) using the SolidWorks finite element software. Mast structures with four different heights (12, 14, 16, and 18 m) and three various outer diameters (0.6, 0.7, and 0.8 m), in each height configuration, were evaluated. These analyses were performed to identify the stiffness, resistance, reliability, and natural frequency stiffness requirements within the mast structures, in order to save manufacturing cost. Based on static analysis, no structural failure is predicted for all masts during wind turbine operation according to maximum von Mises stresses at the bottom of the mast and maximum total deflections on the top of the mast. In addition, the dynamic parameters of these 12 models of masts have been studied to obtain the natural frequencies and corresponding mode shapes. Finally, the recommendations to avoid resonance and design strategy for each mast model are discussed.

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“…These deformations can compromise the structural integrity of the entire system or any part of it, especially when the system responds cyclically, and fatigue damage is accumulated in the elements connecting the different parts of the structure. Fatigue damage in these systems is actually a known problem in practice; some research in the existing literature aims at characterizing the response under cyclical wind loads; such examples can be found for the actual dimensioning of the PV modules [1] and for the supporting system as illustrated in [2] and [3] for the case of 2-GDL systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A framework for fatigue damage estimate in single-axis solar trackers

Frontini,

Argentini,

Muggiasca

et al. 2024

J. Phys.: Conf. Ser.

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Solar trackers are constructions consisting of a series of photovoltaic modules mounted on a motorized supporting structure; such systems are usually characterized by limited torsional stiffness and low number of torsional constraints, factors that lead to lower structural frequencies. At these frequencies, trackers are typically susceptible to turbulent wind, and when excited by it, the expected responses can lead to significant deformations and, with its cyclical load variation, also to fatigue damage. On this premise, the presented article proposes a methodology for estimating fatigue damage caused by dynamic wind effects in single-axis solar trackers. As observed in full-scale scenarios, it is assumed that the fatigue damage accumulates in correspondence of the elements connecting the photovoltaic modules to the underlying structure. To this end, a transfer function that relates the pressure acting on the panel to the stress state in a specific point is evaluated with a finite element (FE) model and then experimentally validated with a cyclical load test. Acting forces time histories, derived by wind tunnel measurements, are used with the transfer function to infer the evolution of the stresses acting in the regions of interest. Finally, the rainflow cycle count method is used in conjunction with the Wöhler curve of the investigated structural detail to analyze the stress history and derive a fatigue damage estimate. It is expected that the proposed approach can aid designers in the damage estimation and verification procedures.

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Stress and fatigue analyses under wind loading of the dual axis sun tracking system via finite element analysis

Cited by 10 publications

References 21 publications

Structural Stability and Fatigue Assessments of Dual-Axis Solar Trackers Using Finite Elements Analysis

Structural Stability and Fatigue Assessments of Dual-Axis Solar Trackers Using Finite Elements Analysis

Numerical simulations on static and dynamic response of full-scale mast structures for H-Darrieus wind turbine

A framework for fatigue damage estimate in single-axis solar trackers

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