Hawt composite smart blade aeroelastic optimization

Abstract

The global demand for sustainable energy solutions has driven continuous research into improving the efficiency of wind turbines, especially for decentralized and urban applications. One promising avenue is the integration of passive aerodynamic adaptability through aeroelastic tailoring, employing laminated composite materials, such that the structural response of the blade assists in optimizing its aerodynamic performance. This study investigates the influence of bend-twist coupling on the power output of horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs). Unidirectional plies are used to create a composite laminate whose bending and torsional deformations are intrinsically coupled. When subjected to aerodynamic loads during operation, the blade undergoes elastic deformations that passively adapt its geometry to the flow, enhancing performance without active control mechanisms. A blade is designed using Blade Element Momentum Theory (BEMT), and its aeroelastic behavior is analyzed through reciprocal fluid–structure interaction. To reduce computational cost during the optimization process, radial basis function metamodeling is applied to approximate simulation responses and feed a genetic optimization algorithm. The optimization seeks to maximize extracted power based on the lamination sequence on both the upper and lower faces of the blade. Final results indicate over 8% increase in extracted power for the bend-twist coupled blade compared to a blade built from isotropic material, as confirmed by one more simulation with the full numerical model. These results highlight the potential of composite materials in coupling bend-twist as a passive mechanism to improve wind turbine efficiency, particularly for small-scale or urban installations.