A method for analyzing the performance of a wind turbine blade design with an adaptive variable twist is presented. The possibility of implementing morphing features is becoming increasingly possible with innovative materials and manufacturing techniques. This motivates a blade concept consisting of multiple shell sections mounted on a rigid spar and covered by non-structural skin. The design allows the blade shells to adapt the twist angle distribution (TAD). The study is conducted using data acquired from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 20 kW wind turbine. A design problem is formulated to find the TAD that maximizes the aerodynamic efficiency for a discrete set of points that represent the Region 2 wind speed. The TAD is found for each point using a heuristic search algorithm. This algorithm searches through performance data that is acquired using the AeroDyn open source simulation software. Results from the model are validated with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations with the k-ω shear stress transport turbulence model. Through this first part of the analysis, it becomes possible to understand the required amount of blade deformation by the TAD function. Given this understanding, a stress analysis can be performed on the blade structure. The scenario considers the combined effect of twisting with aerodynamic loading. The blade load is determined by combining CFD with finite element analysis to facilitate the one-way fluid-structural interaction. The outcome of this work demonstrates how the proposed method can be used to determine the gain in efficiency, required range of motion, and structural performance of the blade shells for a given wind turbine blade design.

提出了一种分析具有自适应可变扭曲的风力涡轮机叶片设计性能的方法。借助创新材料和制造技术，实现变形功能的可能性越来越大。这激发了叶片概念，包括安装在刚性梁上并由非结构蒙皮覆盖的多个壳部分。该设计允许叶片壳适应扭转角分布 (TAD)。该研究是使用从国家可再生能源实验室 (NREL) 20 kW 风力涡轮机获得的数据进行的。一个设计问题被公式化，以找到代表区域 2 风速的一组离散点的最大空气动力效率的 TAD。使用启发式搜索算法为每个点找到 TAD。该算法搜索使用 AeroDyn 开源仿真软件获取的性能数据。该模型的结果通过使用雷诺平均 Navier-Stokes 方程和 k-ω 剪切应力传输湍流模型的计算流体动力学 (CFD) 模拟进行验证。通过分析的第一部分，可以通过 TAD 函数了解所需的叶片变形量。有了这种理解，就可以对叶片结构进行应力分析。该场景考虑了扭曲与空气动力载荷的综合影响。叶片载荷是通过将 CFD 与有限元分析相结合来确定的，以促进单向流体结构相互作用。这项工作的结果展示了如何使用所提出的方法来确定效率的提高，