Journal of Lanzhou University of Technology ›› 2023, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (2): 65-69.

• Mechanical Engineering and Power Engineering • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Fatigue strength analysis of high-strength bolts for tower flange of wind turbine

LIANG Yuan1,2, WANG You-liang2, WEI Tai1, LIU Jian-hui2   

  1. 1. Wind power Equipment Quality Inspection Center, Gansu Special Equipment Inspection and Testing Institute, Lanzhou 730050, China;
    2. School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Lanzhou Univ. of Tech., Lanzhou 730050, China
  • Received:2021-10-13 Online:2023-04-28 Published:2023-05-05

Abstract: An analysis method for high-strength bolts of wind turbine tower flange was established by considering the influence of external load on fatigue damage. Firstly, the maximum load section was determined with the aid of the tower equivalent model according to the damage parameters of the stress state on the connection section. Secondly, the external load on any sector of the tower was obtained by Schmidt-Neuper algorithm. Afterwards, the fatigue damage distribution model of high-strength bolts was established and the relationship between the external load and the internal stress of high-strength bolts was explored based on the finite element model. Finally, the optimal bolt pretightening force was determined with comparing the fatigue cumulative damage values with different bolt pretightening forces by considering the influence of pretightening forces. The results show that the positions of the maximum fatigue cumulative damage of flange bolts were -4.17° and 175.87°, and the bolt pretightening force was the most suitable value when the bolt pretightening force ratio was 70%.

Key words: wind turbine, high-strength bolt, fatigue damage, finite element simulation, pretightening force

CLC Number: