An Interactive Method to Analysis of the Response of the Different Reinforcement Structures of a Door Opening of a Wind Tower

Abstract

The aim of this work is to present a precise numerical calculus method capable to predict the behavior of a wind turbine mast, which is characterized by an open door in its lower part in order to facilitate the access to maintenance tasks. A parametric study had been conducted in this context. The structure studied of steel tower is considered a thin cylindrical shell with constant section and thickness along its studied height. The geometry of the tower had been modeled by non-linear shell type elements. Designers use interior reinforcements to avoid local buckling and minimize the disturbance of the distribution of stress in extreme conditions. The designs adopted in the models are proposed to achieve optimized results, the minimization of the mass, the maximization of the natural frequency and the rigidity at the end of the work. Many configuration had been considered in this study, the enhancement of the gap by using a panel with variable thickness value, by longitudinal stiffeners, by combined stiffeners and finally by a stiffened panel. A numerical model had been suggested to examine a cylindrical shell behavior in compression using the Abaqus software. The obtained results demonstrate the viability and performance of the proposed approach which perfectly meets the structural requirements of the wind tower. We have observed that the stiff plate model gives reliable results to stability under extreme load. On the other hand it is economically profitable is less material needed for manufacturing, which reduces the cost.