Finished projects 2018

The research activities in this project are aimed at developing in-situ techniques for aiding vibration piling technology. Installation of large, so-called XL monopiles using vibration techniques can accelerate installation work, considerably reduce noise emissions, and minimize the pile damage caused by installation work. However, only very little is known at present about the effects of vibrations on soil properties, soil structure, and the final pile bearing capacity. Hence, the focus of this project is on investigating and clarifying these effects by means of site investigation prior pile installation and pile monitoring campaigns. BMWi, 10/2015 – 09/2018

Rotor blades are still made almost completely by hand. In the “BladeMaker“ project, Fraunhofer IWES scientists, industrial and research partners are searching for automation solutions in order to make the manufacture of rotor blades more cost effective, quicker and with a higher quality. BMWi, 10/2012 - 03/2018

The aim of the TANDEM research project is to collect findings and develop methods for lowering the number of uncertainties when designing larger monopiles. Material savings are not the only source of cost advantages – savings are also possible in transport and installation, which in turn contribute to the reduction of energy production costs. BMWi, 08/2015 - 12/2018

Concept study for the development of an optimized maintenance and inspection concept for offshore wind energy turbines with the aid of thermography and SHM technologies as nondestructive testing technology in combination with unmanned aerial vehicle carriers. PFAU, 01/2017 - 12/2018

Within the scope of the project, the largest torque sensor ever to be calibrated at the Federal Physical-Technical Institute (PTB) has been installed on the nacelle test bench at the RWTH in Aachen. Using this new transfer standard, a calibration procedure is being tested which allows traceability for torque measurements of test sequences at the RWTH Aachen to the national standard. EMPIR, 09/2015 – 08/2018

Stall reduces the turbine’s performance. In order to equip wind turbines against this effect, scientists at Fraunhofer IWES are collaborating with industry and research partners to test the use of mechanisms known as self-actuating flaps. Therefore, 2D flow simulations will be performed, followed by wind tunnel tests and computational estimations of yield increases and load reductions for complete 3D blades. Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, 11/2017 – 07/2018

The objective of the GIGAWIND life collaborative project is to expand the design concept for the OWEC support structures which was developed in GIGAWIND alpha ventus with important aspects which occur only over several years of operation. BMWi, 02/2013-01/2018

The aim of the fatigue tests is not only to damage the specimen, rather it is important to reproduce a realistic loading and thus wear and tear as occur in operational wind turbine main shafts. For this reason we have conducted a detailed analysis of simulated and measured load time series for the main shaft. BMWi, 10/2012 - 06/2018