Enhancement of Wind Turbine Vibrational Behavior by using a Pendulum Tuned Mass Damper
Received: 22 February 2025 | Revised: 10 March 2025 | Accepted: 16 March 2025 | Online: 28 March 2025
Corresponding author: Waleed Dirbas
Abstract
Wind turbines experience significant vibrations due to fluctuating wind loads, which can impact structural integrity and operational efficiency. This study examines the effectiveness of Pendulum Tuned Mass Dampers (PTMDs) for mitigating these vibrations. Two types of wind force inputs were analyzed: a sinusoidal function representing periodic wind fluctuations and a random function simulating turbulent wind effects. Numerical simulations were conducted to evaluate the influence of mass ratios (0.01, 0.02, and 0.05) and damping ratios (0.1, 0.02, and 0.05) on vibration suppression. The results indicate that the installation of a PTMD can reduce vibrations from 45% to 91% under varying operating conditions. The optimum vibration suppression of up to 91% was achieved when the damping ratio was 0.02 and the mass ratio was 0.01 under sinusoidal wind force excitation. A mass ratio of 0.05 also led to a decrease of 54% in nacelle oscillations, confirming the effectiveness of PTMD in promoting stability. An optimal damping ratio of 0.02 was found to effectively balance energy dissipation and structural stability, preventing excessive oscillations and maintaining system efficiency. These findings confirm that integrating a PTMD can enhance wind turbine performance by reducing fatigue loads and extending operational lifespan. By optimizing the PTMD parameters, engineers can achieve better vibration control, improving the stability and durability of wind turbines under varying wind conditions. This study underscores the importance of passive vibration control mechanisms in modern wind energy systems and provides valuable insights into enhancing their long-term reliability.
Keywords:
wind turbine, pendulum tuned mass damper, vibrational behavior, mass ratio, damping ratio, structural stability enhancementDownloads
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Copyright (c) 2025 Waleed Dirbas, Hamza Diken, Khalid Alnefaie
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