Dynamic characteristics of lag vibration of a wind turbine blade

Lagwise dynamic characteristics of a wind turbine blade subjected to unsteady aerodynamic loads are studied in this paper. The partial differential equations governing the coupled longitudinal-transverse vibration of the blade with large bending deflection are obtained by applying Hamiltonʹs principle. The modal problem of the coupled vibration is handled by using the method of numerical integration of Greenʹs function. Influences of the rotating speed, the pitch angle, the setting angle, and the aerodynamic loads on natural frequencies are discussed. Results show that: (1) Lagwise natural frequencies ascend with the increase of rotating speed; effects of the rotating speed on low-frequencies are dramatic while these effects on high-frequencies become less. (2) Influences of the pitch angle on natural frequencies are little; in the range of the normal rotating speed, the first frequency ascends with the increase of the absolute value of the pitch angle, while it is contrary to the second and third frequencies. (3) Effects of the setting angle on natural frequencies depend on the rotating speed; influences are not significant at low speed, while they are dramatic on the first frequency at high speed. (4) Effects of the aerodynamic loads on natural frequencies are very little; frequencies derived from the model considering aerodynamic loads are smaller than those from the model neglecting aerodynamic loads; relative errors of the results corresponding to two models ascend with the increase of the absolute value of the setting angle.