Dynamic aeroelastic behavior of wind turbine rotors in rapid pitch-control actions

The present study focuses on the use of rapid pitch control for handling short-term variations in wind conditions and load fluctuations within one cycle of rotation, with special attention to the prognosis of the aeroelastic response of the rotor. We use a numerical model capable of handling the complexities of the multi-physics dynamics of a wind turbine rotor. Based on a nonlinear adaptive ODE algorithm, it provides a natural way to integrate the various multi-physics aspects of wind turbine dynamics, including the control system and the coupled response of the aerodynamics and the structural deformations of the rotor. Results are presented for the case study of the NREL-5MW Reference Wind Turbine, and their significance for wind-turbine rotors in general is discussed.