As wind turbine gearbox failure rates continue to challenge the energy industry, CAE simulation is gaining traction as a means to reduce manufacturing costs and shorten design cycles. AVL EXCITE™ M is a multibody dynamics software that aims to address these challenges through a comprehensive wind turbine drivetrain simulation framework. Key capabilities include:
- Plain bearing lubrication analysis: evaluating hydrodynamic contact pressure, friction, wear, and misalignment using elasto-hydrodynamic (EHD) theory
- Gear meshing analysis: accounting for macro/micro geometry, tooth flank contact pressure, power loss, and transmission error
- System torsional vibration analysis: simulating transient events such as rotor acceleration, emergency stops, and extreme gusts
- NVH analysis: computing housing surface vibration and noise characteristics
- Reliability analysis: determining transient stress distributions across components
The platform aims to replicate real operating conditions with high fidelity by integrating flexible finite element bodies, electro-mechanical generator interaction, and real-world load boundaries across both steady-state and transient scenarios.
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