Gearbox Reliability Collaborative Phase 1 and 2: Testing and Modeling Results

J. Keller, Y. Guo, B. McNiff, W. Lacava, H. Link

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

6 Scopus Citations

Abstract

One activity of the Gearbox Reliability Collaborative (GRC) investigates root causes of wind turbine gearbox premature failures and validates design assumptions that affect gearbox reliability using a combined testing and modeling approach. Knowledge gained from the testing and modeling of the GRC gearboxes builds an understanding of how the selected loads and events translate into internal responses of three-point mounted gearboxes. This paper presents some testing and modeling results of the GRC research during Phase 1 and 2. Non-torque loads from the rotor including shaft bending and thrust, traditionally assumed to be uncoupled with the gearbox, affect gear and bearing loads and resulting gearbox responses. Bearing clearance increases bearing loads and causes cyclic loading, which could contribute to a reduced bearing life. Including model flexibilities of key drivetrain subcomponents is important in order to accurately simulate the measured gearbox response during the tests.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages4381-4389
Number of pages9
StatePublished - 2012
Event25th International Conference on Noise and Vibration engineering, ISMA2012 in conjunction with the 4th International Conference on Uncertainty in Structural Dynamics, USD 2012 - Leuven, Belgium
Duration: 17 Sep 201219 Sep 2012

Conference

Conference25th International Conference on Noise and Vibration engineering, ISMA2012 in conjunction with the 4th International Conference on Uncertainty in Structural Dynamics, USD 2012
Country/TerritoryBelgium
CityLeuven
Period17/09/1219/09/12

Bibliographical note

See NREL/CP-5000-55207 for preprint

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/CP-5000-62925

Keywords

  • gearboxes
  • reliability
  • wind turbine

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