Collaborative engineering environment to predict aeroelasticity behaviour of windturbines blades over High Speed Network

 La Rochelle 10 Apr 99 Since January 1998, both departments of Information Processing and Systems (DRIS), and Structure Dynamics and Coupled Systems (DDSS) at the Office National d'Etudes et de Recherches Aérospatiales, work together with CRAIN, a French SME research office, based in La Rochelle and specialized in nautical engineering. The Esprit funded CAPI project unites the partners in a joint effort to perform aeroelasticity predictions of wind turbines blades behaviour, by using remote access to high performance computing resources in a collaborative engineering environment over a high speed network. CRAIN will also collaboratively analyse results with another SME partner involved in wind turbine design, which is AERODYN, located in Rendsburg, Germany. The Germanischer Lloyd in Hamburg will co-operate with CRAIN and AERODYN for certification and approval of the results. The close relationship between ONERA and DLR, which operates in Germany as ONERA's equivalent, has enabled these contacts. As the sixth CAPI partner, the University of La Rochelle will facilitate experimentation and validation over High Speed Networks.

The acronym CAPI refers to Collaborative Aeroealsticity Prediction over hIgh speed network. The project, which ends in June 1999, aims at the validation of computing environments, which allow an SME to remotely use a simulation software, in collaboration with its developers. The results of these simulations can also be collaboratively analysed and interactively compared with those obtained by a similar SME in another country. On the real world case study, relating to aeroelasticity predictions of windturbines blades, the collaborative engineering environment will be extensively demonstrated and validated. Internet and WWW-based Java technology tools are applied both over ISDN and over high speed networks in order to facilitate generalisation in other areas and with other partners.

The CRAIN engineers will be allowed to utilize an advanced prediction code at ONERA, approximately 500 kms away, in the Parisian area. In turn, the ONERA engineers will assist the CRAIN team in both the training and usage of this code. They will also be responsible for steering the remote simulation through a Computer Supported Collaborative Work (CSCW) environment. Initially, the simulation code was developed for helicopter blades. For CAPI, the code has been adapted to predict the aeroelastic stability of windturbines blades in relation to different vibration factors. CRAIN was founded in 1984 and has designed numerous racing boats for the America's cup ever since. While working on a new material for canoes, the CRAIN researchers hit upon the idea to use the material for the construction of windturbines blades. In ONERA, they found the ideal partner with the required expertise to tackle the complex design issues in a collaborative engineering environment.

ONERA has a long standing experience with problems related to the use of remote collaborative environments as well as with applications which can be used in the construction of windturbines. In turn, AERODYN as the German partner, has been specializing since many years in the design and building of windturbines. This company has developed its own software code in order to predict the aeroelastic behaviour of the windturbines blades. In this way, it is possible to collaboratively compare and consolidate the CRAIN simulation analysis results with those obtained by the AERODYN engineers. Within the daily routine, the CAPI partners mainly rely on the Numéris network to establish the collaborative engineering environment. It is only for critical cases in terms of bandwidth and response time that the University of La Rochelle facilitates direct access to international connections over high speed networks.

The principal objective of the CAPI project consists in creating a collaborative environment with optimum facilities for all co-operating partners, regardless of distance, number of participants, and performed simulations. As such, the project forms a major contribution to the design of efficiently operating windturbines. In addition, the CAPI initiative allows ONERA to continue its research with regard to the application of advanced videoconferencing tools in complex engineering projects for all types of industrial sectors.

For more information, check in at: visu-www.onera.fr/CAPI .

Leslie Versweyveld