MS#06.7 Lifetime extension of support structures of wind turbines

C. HÜBLER¹, E. GHAFOORI², J. HENG³
¹ TU Darmstadt |² Institute for Steel Construction Leibniz University Hannover |³ Sichuan University

Reliability, monitoring and sensing, O&M

Wind turbines are normally designed for 20 to 25 years. However, especially the steel components of older wind turbines have been designed with significant safety margins, so that lifetime extensions are possible in many cases. Normally, lifetime extensions are only approved if a safe and reliable further operation is possible. To demonstrate this possibility, current standards request renewed design simulations which consider, for example, a joint probability distribution of the environmental conditions occurred until today. Although state-of-the-art approaches already yield some potential for lifetime extensions, more advanced methods taking into account the available data might enable even further extensions.

Therefore, this mini-symposium welcomes submissions in the field of new and further development methods for lifetime extensions of support structures of wind turbines. On the one hand, these methods can be based on global approaches, e.g., determining the occurred loads more accurately or updating the simulation model based on monitoring data (digital shadow). On the other hand, local approaches, e.g., taking into account actual weld geometries, are also possible. Contributions focussing on purely data-driven approaches, e.g., based on strain measurements, and those developing mainly simulation-based approaches are welcome. Combined local-global approaches are of special interest. Contributions focussing on components that are not part of the substructure, e.g., blades, are out of the scope of this mini-symposium.