Research in the Griffith Research Group is focused on developing new wind turbine designs and gaining a better understanding of structural dynamic and aero-elastic phenomena in these systems. Our design research is addressing new wind turbine designs including active load control, large-scale downwind rotors, and floating wind energy systems. Our structural dynamics activities span analytical and numerical studies to experimental modal analysis conducted in our laboratory.
ARPA-E ATLANTIS Program: Our group is leading a multi-institution effort focused on developing a large-scale vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) rotors for deep-water floating offshore wind. Research is focused on new rotor (aero-servo-elastic) and platform designs to improve performance and reduce costs of deep-water offshore wind where floating systems are required.
The SUMR-D rotor is being installed on the CART-2 wind turbine at the NREL National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) in October 2018. UT-Dallas performed the structural design of this innovative scaled rotor with 21m blades that mimics the dynamics and loads of a full-scale 105m blade.
