Product category:
Simulation, modelling and validation software
News Release from: LMS International | Subject: LMS Virtual.Lab
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 11 October 2007
Simulation technology used for wind
turbines
TUV SUD is implementing the LMS Virtual.Lab durability software to identify fatigue hotspots and assess their effect on component reliability.
TUV SUD Industrie Service is implementing LMS Virtual.Lab simulation technology in support of its type certification services for wind turbines Simulation-based processes to efficiently certify wind turbine designs are being established by the firm in response to growing demands for wind-powered electrical generation, which has quadrupled from 2000 to 2006 and is predicted to more than double by 2010, according to the World Wind Energy Association
To become operational, wind turbines must be certified for structural integrity and safety in withstanding routine cyclic loads as well as extreme weather conditions and random high-impact forces hitting the structures.
The global need for wind turbine certification is increasing significantly, especially in Germany which has an installed wind power output of 20,900MW and ranks number one in the world for electrical generation from wind turbines.
TUV engineers engage in testing, inspection, design review, approval and calculations such as stress analysis, structural dynamics and life cycle assessment.
In support of its wind turbine certification work, TUV SUD is implementing the LMS Virtual.Lab durability software to identify fatigue hotspots and assess their effect on component reliability.
The wind turbines have to withstand many years of ever changing wind conditions.
All these have to be simulated to achieve a reliable fatigue result.
The process begins with the finite element model of the component to be certified.
For fatigue life prediction all the wind load conditions need to be simulated and the damaging effect accumulated.
The LMS durability software makes use of templates and scripting features using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to handle this complex set-up efficiently.
"Capturing best practices and automating repetitive tasks in the fatigue life prediction process saves significant time, reduces the chance for errors and ensures that we consistently follow standard procedures in our certification of wind turbines" according to Albert Limmer from TUV SUD.
He notes that the scripting feature is particularly beneficial in integrating LMS Virtual.Lab with in-house and specialty applications used by TUV SUD.
After computation of fatigue life, results are automatically post-processed with colour-coded plots clearly showing areas of excessive fatigue concentration and predicted time-to-failure for the component.
Written reports with all relevant data included are then automatically created through LMS report generation capabilities.
"Using powerful automation and visualisation features, our engineers have found LMS Virtual.Lab to be exceptionally easy to use and a state of the art technology on which to base our wind-turbine certification process".
"Performing 'virtual certification' through analysis and simulation enables TUV SUD to evaluate more wind turbines faster and in far greater detail than is otherwise possible - or practical - through physical testing".
"In this way, we rely on LMS Virtual.Lab in meeting growing worldwide energy demands for an increased number of wind turbines that must operate safely and reliably for decades under extreme conditions". Request a free brochure from LMS International ...
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