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Analysis and prediction of wind turbine bolts based on GPR method

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Abstract

With the variance of preload and vibration in working conditions, wind turbine bolt loosening is difficult to predict accurately. To address the problem, wind turbine bolts are employed as the study object, and the loosening mechanism of bolts as well as the prediction of preload variation are investigated by means of finite element analysis. The result shows that, under the action of transverse vibration load, the magnitude of vibration load is the main factor affecting the loosening, and the larger the load magnitude, the more likely the loosening occurs. Besides, a bolt loosening prediction model based on Gaussian process regression is developed to obtain confidence intervals for the variation of the preload in a probabilistic sense. This study provides a theoretical basis for solving the problem of bolt loosening and preload relaxation in wind power under vibration conditions, and improves the safety and reliability of wind turbine operation.

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Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.51565030).

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Correspondence to Hua Huang.

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Hua Huang is a Professor at the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering in Lanzhou University of Technology. He obtained his Ph.D. from Tongji University, China, in 2011. His research interests include analysis and control of structural dynamics of mechanical equipment.

Yonghe Wang is a postgraduate student at the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering in Lanzhou University of Technology. His research interests include analysis and control of structural dynamics of mechanical equipment.

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Huang, H., Wang, Y. & Pang, Q. Analysis and prediction of wind turbine bolts based on GPR method. J Mech Sci Technol 37, 1155–1164 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-023-0202-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-023-0202-6

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