Blade performance on the effect of whale wavy leading- edge by using meshfree analysis

This study investigates the application of a wavy leading edge (WLE)—based on the flipper of a humpback whale—on a water turbine blade and its effect on blade performance. The analysis was conducted using a numerical tool known as MeshFree. Focusing on the blade application in a water turbine, a wav...

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Main Author: Mohamad Arba’i, Nurul Afiqah
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/81466/1/NurulAfiqahMohamadMSKA2018.pdf
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spelling my-utm-ep.814662019-08-23T05:18:56Z Blade performance on the effect of whale wavy leading- edge by using meshfree analysis 2018 Mohamad Arba’i, Nurul Afiqah TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) This study investigates the application of a wavy leading edge (WLE)—based on the flipper of a humpback whale—on a water turbine blade and its effect on blade performance. The analysis was conducted using a numerical tool known as MeshFree. Focusing on the blade application in a water turbine, a wavy leading edge was applied and adapted to the blade due to the proven capability of this feature in reducing turbine cut-in speed. The approach utilises a meshless method (MeshFree), which has been claimed to result in higher accuracy output compared to other well-known numerical tools such as the Finite Difference Method (FDM) and Finite Element Method (FEM). In this study, the subject was considered as a thin-plate element, and the formulation was made in MeshFree, with the processing conducted in MATLAB software. A number of outputs were obtained from the MeshFree method and then applied in a parametric study. A few sets of parameters were identified consisting of radius, number of nodes, and number of Gauss points, where all values were fixed prior to observing the effect of the wavy pattern on the maximum deflection of the blade. Then, the wavelength, amplitude, and curve at the corner of the blade were varied to observe their effect on blade deflection. The results show that the wavelength parameter had no significant effect on the blade deflection compared to the normal design of the blade unlike the amplitude and curve parameters. In sum, although the WLE factors can increase the turbine’s effective energy production, it could also contribute to higher maximum deflection on the blade when amplitude is increased. However, this increment could be controlled by increasing the curve at the corner edge of the blade. 2018 Thesis http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/81466/ http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/81466/1/NurulAfiqahMohamadMSKA2018.pdf application/pdf en public http://dms.library.utm.my:8080/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:125094 masters Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Civil Engineering
institution Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
collection UTM Institutional Repository
language English
topic TA Engineering (General)
Civil engineering (General)
spellingShingle TA Engineering (General)
Civil engineering (General)
Mohamad Arba’i, Nurul Afiqah
Blade performance on the effect of whale wavy leading- edge by using meshfree analysis
description This study investigates the application of a wavy leading edge (WLE)—based on the flipper of a humpback whale—on a water turbine blade and its effect on blade performance. The analysis was conducted using a numerical tool known as MeshFree. Focusing on the blade application in a water turbine, a wavy leading edge was applied and adapted to the blade due to the proven capability of this feature in reducing turbine cut-in speed. The approach utilises a meshless method (MeshFree), which has been claimed to result in higher accuracy output compared to other well-known numerical tools such as the Finite Difference Method (FDM) and Finite Element Method (FEM). In this study, the subject was considered as a thin-plate element, and the formulation was made in MeshFree, with the processing conducted in MATLAB software. A number of outputs were obtained from the MeshFree method and then applied in a parametric study. A few sets of parameters were identified consisting of radius, number of nodes, and number of Gauss points, where all values were fixed prior to observing the effect of the wavy pattern on the maximum deflection of the blade. Then, the wavelength, amplitude, and curve at the corner of the blade were varied to observe their effect on blade deflection. The results show that the wavelength parameter had no significant effect on the blade deflection compared to the normal design of the blade unlike the amplitude and curve parameters. In sum, although the WLE factors can increase the turbine’s effective energy production, it could also contribute to higher maximum deflection on the blade when amplitude is increased. However, this increment could be controlled by increasing the curve at the corner edge of the blade.
format Thesis
qualification_level Master's degree
author Mohamad Arba’i, Nurul Afiqah
author_facet Mohamad Arba’i, Nurul Afiqah
author_sort Mohamad Arba’i, Nurul Afiqah
title Blade performance on the effect of whale wavy leading- edge by using meshfree analysis
title_short Blade performance on the effect of whale wavy leading- edge by using meshfree analysis
title_full Blade performance on the effect of whale wavy leading- edge by using meshfree analysis
title_fullStr Blade performance on the effect of whale wavy leading- edge by using meshfree analysis
title_full_unstemmed Blade performance on the effect of whale wavy leading- edge by using meshfree analysis
title_sort blade performance on the effect of whale wavy leading- edge by using meshfree analysis
granting_institution Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
granting_department Civil Engineering
publishDate 2018
url http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/81466/1/NurulAfiqahMohamadMSKA2018.pdf
_version_ 1747818338716745728