durability and fatigue group

Engineering Integrity Society

Durability and fatigue advances in wind, wave and tidal energy
Thursday 30 September 2010
BAWA, Filton, Bristol

Building on the success of the previous EIS Durability and Fatigue Advances in Wind, Wave and Tidal Energy in 2006 and 2008, the society is scheduling the next event for Thursday 30 September 2010. In light of accelerated progress due to climate consideration, major projects have recently been launched that require inspired durability concepts to ensure long term survivability.

To view the 2006 programme click here
To view abstracts from the 2006 seminar click here

To view the 2008 programme click here
To view abstracts from the 2008 seminar click here

A particular emphasis in 2010 is on the need to develop new methods to build large scale wind farms and other renewable energy systems off-shore. This requires further development of current design standards, models and methods to ensure reliable and maintainable structures.

Introduction:

This third EIS biannual meeting brings together technical experts to discuss and share recent advances in fatigue and durability assessment for renewable structures, building on the success of the previous two events held in 2006 and 2008.

The relevance of this event has been highlighted in a recent economic valuation  of offshore renewable energy (May 2010), which claimed that sufficient resources exist to meet UK demands and generate the same amount of electricity as is currently achieved by North Sea oil and gas production. It postulates that by 2050 the UK could export some of its renewable electricity and produce clean electricity equivalent to one billion barrels of oil annually through the installation of 169GW of capacity. This may seem ambitious compared to the current plan of 30GW offshore windfarms.

Nonetheless, the current accelerated plan requires new objectives for the implementation of an integrated structural integrity approach to be used in future far-offshore technologies. This includes development of reliable advanced and modern lifing tools for offshore renewable energy. There is a need to develop an integrated validation process which involves maintenance and includes health monitoring, testing of coupons, components and systems, and which correlates with comprehensive analytical analysis. Finally, there is a need for fast track innovations in areas of damage detection, smart materials and design optimization.

The event speakers are drawn from established companies in this sector, as well as from experienced professionals working with emerging technologies in advanced monitoring and theoretical assessment of renewable structures. The Engineering Integrity Society which previously organized this event is a UK based charity promoting the academic and social advancement of engineering. These aims are achieved through regular technical seminars, conferences and meetings to review current engineering practices. The EIS provides a pragmatic and practical arena for engineers on a multidisciplinary basis and has previously run events on related aspects of engineering; for example, the durability of composites, welded structures and corrosion fatigue.

Confirmed Speakers:

Dr Lewis Lack, Xanthus Energy Ltd: "Designing structures for Wind and Wave Loading"
Dave Smurthwaite, Prof. Jarek Rosinski, Transmission Dynamics: "Type testing of high capacity wind turbine gearboxes - are we doing enough?
Graham Penning, David Brown Gear Systems, Brian Shaw & Ian Sewell, University of Newcastle upon Tyne: Wind Turbine Bearing Reliability Test Rig
Philipp R. Thies & Lars Johanning, University of Exeter: "PRIMaRE Marine component testing facility for marine energy converters"
Prof Feargal Brennan, Cranfield University: "Alleviation of fatigue in offshore wind support structures"
Dr Jamie Grimwade, NAREC: Why is there such diversity amongst Wave Energy Converters concepts?
Dr Holger Hun, Fraunhofer Institut fur Windenergie und Energiesystem technik & Dr Karl-Heinz Hasse, HBM GmbH
Dr Paul. Harper - Bristol University. "Tidal Turbine Blades - Improving Performance and Reducing Cost."
Professor S. D. Garvey, University of Nottingham - “Structural Capacity” – and scaling up renewables
Ian Godfrey, IT Power Ltd - Avoiding Fatigue in the Tidal Race
Mark Osborne, Moog - “Enhancing Wind Turbine Condition Monitoring through Blade Load Measurements”.

 

To view abstracts for the 2010 seminar click here

To download the programme for the 2010 seminar click here

To view location & travel instructions click here

Co-Sponsors:

 

The Engineering Integrity Society would like to thank the following organisations for agreeing to Sponsor this event and will be present on the day:

For all enquiries please contact:

Mrs Lisa Mansfield,
Engineering Integrity Society,
18 Oak Close,
Bedworth,
Warwickshire,
CV12 9AJ
+44 (0)2476 730 126
Email: Click here
Internet: http://www.e-i-s.org.uk/