Wind turbine aerodynamics and loading

The aerodynamics of a vertical axis wind turbines have been investigated experimentally and numerically. Such turbines exhibit dynamic stall at very high angles of attack and have complex interactions between shed vortices that are encountered later in the blades' motion. Similarities exist with insect/bird wing and UAV flows. A wide range of issues are under consideration, primarily associated with aerodynamics, power production and mitigation of vibration excitation.   

Prototype vertical axis wind turbine with additional instrumentation: wind tunnel testing, rooftop testing in unsteady non-uniform flows, CFD simulations (mesh and cross-section of pressure field) and blade configuration wind tunnel testing.