PRESTRESSED STAYED CROSSARMED WIND TURBINE TOWERS

One of the major components of horizontal axis wind turbines is the tower, which supports the weight of the rotor and nacelle as well as the thrust force produced by the rotor. Wind turbine towers are designed for static stability under the axial load, for strength to withstand the cantilever thrust force and for dynamic stability in interaction with rotating rotor and blades. This paper presents the results of a numerical investigation into an innovative wind turbine tower design, using the concept of pre-stressed stayed cross-armed columns. Pre-stressed stayed cross-armed columns restrain the column buckling deformation as a result of the tension in the cables causing compression in the horizontal cross-arms. This essentially decreases the effective length of the column, thereby giving it superior axial load resistance against buckling.