Print Email Facebook Twitter Influence of execution tolerances for friction connections in circular and polygonal towers for wind converters Title Influence of execution tolerances for friction connections in circular and polygonal towers for wind converters Author Heistermann, Christine (Luleå University of Technology) Pavlovic, M. (TU Delft Steel & Composite Structures; Luleå University of Technology) Veljkovic, M. (TU Delft Steel & Composite Structures; Luleå University of Technology) Pak, Daniel (Institut für Maschinengestaltung und Maschinenelemente; University of Siegen) Feldmann, Markus (Institut für Maschinengestaltung und Maschinenelemente) Rebelo, Carlos (Universidade de Coimbra) da Silva, Luis Simões (Universidade de Coimbra) Date 2017 Abstract Friction connections with long open slotted holes have been proven to be a competitive alternative to the conventional flange connections in steel tubular towers for wind energy converters. As full-scale tests are not available, results of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of the real-scale tower geometry are used in this paper to investigate the influence of tower cross section shape, execution tolerance (gap between the shells) and length of the connection on the bending resistance. Buckling behaviour of the shell in the vicinity of the friction connection in circular and polygonal towers is compared. The friction connection is thoroughly examined and recommendations for execution tolerances are given. The influence of two types of the execution tolerances on the connection strength is considered: inward bended “fingers”, leading to inclined gaps, and a parallel gap created by different tower diameters. Subject Circular cross sectionExecution toleranceFEAFriction connectionLong open slotted holePolygonal cross sectionSteel tubular towerWind energy converter To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:48faf36f-63de-425c-8508-4c5fe1987e6c DOI https://doi.org/10.18057/IJASC.2017.13.4.2 ISSN 1816-112X Source Advanced Steel Construction, 13 (4), 343-360 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2017 Christine Heistermann, M. Pavlovic, M. Veljkovic, Daniel Pak, Markus Feldmann, Carlos Rebelo, Luis Simões da Silva Files PDF Vol13no4_2_1_.pdf 4.66 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:48faf36f-63de-425c-8508-4c5fe1987e6c/datastream/OBJ/view