Troubleshooting

NuMAD will repeatedly print a message in the MATLAB command window to the effect of:

``Waiting for ANSYS to <`do something`>``
``Waiting for ANSYS to <`do something`>``
``Waiting for ANSYS to <`do something`>``

Common things to check are the ANSYS .err and .log for clues.

Known Issues

Trailing Edge Issues

  • There is a need to allow for the existence of a nonzero trailing edge thickness. The only way to achieve this in the current release is to specify that the airfoil in question is a flatback.

  • Trailing edge overlap

../_images/TEoverlap.png

  • Often the element quality is poor at various parts of the trailing edge. Possible solutions could be:

    • Alter airfoil geometry when reading in to make sharp airfoils for small trailing edge thicknesses

    • Incorporate solid elements to represent trailing edge adhesive

Other Issues

  • The placement of the spar cap must never exceed the bounds of the spar cap keypoints.

  • blade.updateBOM fails for an unknown reason if the layer quantity increases rather than decreases toward the tip.

References

  1. Berg, Jonathan, Joshua Paquette, and Brian Resor. “Mapping of 1D beam loads to the 3D wind blade for buckling analysis.” 52nd AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics and Materials Conference 19th AIAA/ASME/AHS Adaptive Structures Conference 13t. 2011.

  2. Fagerberg, Linus, and Dan Zenkert. “Effects of anisotropy and multiaxial loading on the wrinkling of sandwich panels.” Journal of Sandwich Structures & Materials 7.3 (2005): 177-194.

  3. Berg, Jonathan C., and Brian R. Resor. “Numerical manufacturing and design tool (NuMAD V2. 0) for wind turbine blades: user’s guide.” Sandia National Laboratories Technical Report, SAND2012-7028 (2012).