TY - JOUR

T1 - Full-scale validation of FE models for geometrically imperfect flange connections

AU - Seidel, Marc

AU - Stang, Andre

AU - Wegener, Filip

AU - Schierl, Christopher

AU - Schaumann, Peter

N1 - Funding Information: The utilised experimental results were achieved within the research project “Fatigue loads of bolted ring flange connections of wind turbines” funded by the German Mechanical Engineering Research Forum (FKM) and the German Research Association of the Working Group of the Iron- and Metal-processing Industry e.V. (AVIF). The authors again thankfully acknowledge their former support forming the basis of this research work. At the Institute for Steel Construction (IfS), the current research work was conducted within the research project ‘German Research Facility for Wind Energy – DFWind’ (BMWi, funding sign: 0325936E). The authors from IfS thank the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy for funding this research work. Furthermore, the authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of the former M. Sc. Students Michael Störtkuhl and Aaron Mehlhose, who both supported this research work in the scope of their Master Thesis. Special thanks go to Karl-Heinz Hentschel, who was responsible for the measurements. Being able to successfully use measurement data 20 years after collection is a clear sign of the quality delivered.

PY - 2021/12

Y1 - 2021/12

N2 - Geometrical imperfections are an important aspect for fatigue design of bolted ring flange connections, particularly for support structures of wind turbines. This paper deals with the validation of 3D FEA models including such imperfections. Measurements from a 1.5 MW onshore wind turbine tower are compared against numerical results from two independently built FE models. The results show that the effect of imperfections, which have only been measured at the tower manufacturer, can be qualitatively well predicted by the FEA model. Furthermore, the results from the two completely independent models are almost identical, giving confidence that results can be reproduced. Recommendations for building FEA models are given, such that designers wishing to use idealized or measured imperfections for design purposes have guidance.

AB - Geometrical imperfections are an important aspect for fatigue design of bolted ring flange connections, particularly for support structures of wind turbines. This paper deals with the validation of 3D FEA models including such imperfections. Measurements from a 1.5 MW onshore wind turbine tower are compared against numerical results from two independently built FE models. The results show that the effect of imperfections, which have only been measured at the tower manufacturer, can be qualitatively well predicted by the FEA model. Furthermore, the results from the two completely independent models are almost identical, giving confidence that results can be reproduced. Recommendations for building FEA models are given, such that designers wishing to use idealized or measured imperfections for design purposes have guidance.

KW - Flange connection

KW - Full-scale measurements

KW - Imperfections

KW - Tower

KW - Wind turbine

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85115792706&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.jcsr.2021.106955

DO - 10.1016/j.jcsr.2021.106955

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85115792706

VL - 187

JO - Journal of Constructional Steel Research

JF - Journal of Constructional Steel Research

SN - 0143-974X

M1 - 106955

ER -