Unsteady aerodynamic model for rotating wings

Abstract

Multifunctional structures can perform tasks additional to their primary functions. Based on the concept of vibration-based energy harvesting a structure can perform the additional function of providing electrical energy by converting vibrations to electricity. Transduction mechanisms of some smart materials can be used for converting vibrations to electricity. The additional energy source is particularly useful for remotely operated systems with limited energy source. Small electronic components, as sensor networks used in structural health monitoring applications, could be powered with the energy harvested from ambient vibrations. The piezo-aero-elastic modeling and analysis of a plate-like wing with embedded piezoceramics has been presented by this research group. The coupled model is obtained from the combination an electromechanically coupled finite element (FE) model with an unsteady aerodynamic model. The investigation of the electrical power generated is performed for a wide range of airflow speeds. The piezo-aero-elastic modeling and analysis of a rotating generator wing is a useful investigation. The energy harvested from the rotating wing could power SHM systems installed in helicopters or wind turbines blades. This way these aeroelastic systems could be safer and the overall operational costs reduced as maintenances periods would be precisely defined. The main goal in this proposal is to modify an unsteady aerodynamic panel model (vortex lattice model) originally derived for fixed wings into an unsteady aerodynamic model for rotating wings. In the future the combination of the aerodynamic model for rotating wings and a non-linear electromechanically coupled structural model will result a piezo-aero-elastic model for energy harvesting of rotating generator blades.