Considerations for the structural analysis and design of wind turbine towers: A review

Abstract The use of wind generators has grown exponentially in recent decades to meet the increasing demand for electricity. With both generator design and generation capability growing, the resulting increases in the size of generators require them to withstand multiple and intense dynamic loads. These loads cause greater stresses, fatigue, torsions, deflections, and vibrations, among others, leading to greater failures during a generator's life cycle. These issues are of great significance to the research and technological development involved in improving the design, manufacturing process, and installation of wind turbine towers. This work presents a detailed review of the most notable aspects involved in the analysis and design of towers. These aspects include loads and actuating forces, types of structural analysis, used software, and types of experiments used for validating the aspects themselves. In addition, different perspectives regarding the types of supports for onshore and offshore wind turbines are discussed. Likewise, the proposals for new designs and construction materials are also analyzed. The present review integrates the most relevant aspects and recent developments in the design, manufacture, and installation of wind turbine towers. This has been carried out with the objective of providing a contemporary frame of reference that will facilitate the future research and project development related to wind turbine towers.

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