Aeroelastic optimization has become an indispensable component in the evaluation of divergence and flutter characteristics for plated/shell structures. The present paper intends to review the fundamental trends and dominant approaches in the optimal design of engineering constructions. A special attention is focused on the formulation of objective functions/functional and the definition of physical (material) variables, particularly in view of composite materials understood in the broader sense as not only multilayered laminates but also as sandwich structures, nanocomposites, functionally graded materials, and materials with piezoelectric actuators/sensors. Moreover, various original aspects of optimization problems of composite structures are demonstrated, discussed, and reviewed in depth.

An experimental study has been carried out to assess the effectiveness of infrared thermography in wrinkle detection in composite GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic) structures by infrared active thermography. Wrinkles in composite GFRP plates with different weave patterns (twill and satin) have been manufactured with the use of the vacuum bagging method. The different localization of defects in laminates has been taken into account. Transmission and reflection measurement techniques of active thermography have been verified and compared. The section of a turbine blade with a vertical axis of rotation containing post-manufacturing wrinkles has been prepared to verify active thermography measurement techniques in the real structure. In the turbine blade section, the influence of a gelcoat surface on the effectiveness of thermography damage detection has also been taken into account. Straightforward thermal parameters applied in structural health monitoring systems allow an effective damage detection method to be built. The transmission IRT setup allows not only for damage detection and localization in composite structures but also for accurate damage identification. The reflection IRT setup is convenient for damage detection systems coupled with nondestructive testing software. In considered cases, the type of fabric weave has negligible influence on the quality of damage detection results.

The current work is devoted to the numerical determination of the wind speed value, which can cause the overturning of the mobile elevating work platform of the scissor lift type. In the first step of the analysis, the scaled model of the real vehicle is prepared. In the second step, the model is used in the aerodynamic tunnel to determine the aerodynamic force values and moment, which act on the vehicle. The three different configurations of the work platform are considered, namely: (a) The work platform raised to the maximum height with an additional bridge extended, (b) the work platform raised to the maximum height, and (c) the work platform half raised. In each position, the direction of the wind is changed from the range from 0° to 180° with an increment equal to 15°. In the next step of the analysis, the CFD simulations are carried out. The ANSYS Fluent R22 software is used. As a model of turbulent airflow, the standard k-ε with standard wall function is adopted. The obtained experimental results are used to verify the numerical model. A very good agreement between the results of the experiment and the results of numerical simulations is obtained. As the main result of the numerical study, the values of the tipping moment and corresponding wind speed that cause the overturning of the analyzed real scissor lift are determined. It occurred that the lowest value of the wind speed is obtained for the first variant of the vehicle configuration V¹_crt = 22.315 m/s for the angle of the wind speed direction β = 30° and the highest one for the third variant V³_crt = 34.534 m/s and β = 15°, without any persons on the work platform. The presence of human beings on the work platform is also considered.

The current work concerns the problem of estimating the aerodynamic forces and moments induced by the wind on the fast-erecting 63K crane by Liebherr. In the first step, scaled sectional models of the tower truss and horizontal jib truss are prepared for experimental analysis in an aerodynamic tunnel. Next, the aerodynamic forces and moments are measured in the aerodynamic tunnel. It is assumed that the direction of the wind changes from 0° to 180° in 15° steps for both of the studied sectional models. The experimental tests are carried out for two levels of turbulence intensity. In the case of the model of the vertical part of the studied crane, the turbulence intensities are assumed to be equal to 3% and 9%. In the case of the horizontal crane jib, they are 3% and 12%, respectively. In the second step, a CFD analysis is performed with the use of Ansys Fluent R22 software. The standard k-ε model with a standard wall function of the turbulent flow is utilized. The airflow around the studied structures is modeled with the use of polytetrahedral cells. A relatively good agreement between the numerical and experimental results is observed. The obtained values are compared to the appropriate standard, namely PN-ISO 4302.

The present paper concerns the problem of estimating the loading induced by the wind on a gantry crane standing in the open air. Sufficiently strong wind may cause the device to move or even tip over. Two different structures were studied, namely the box girder and truss girder. At the very beginning, the two sectional scaled parts of the main horizontal beam (box and truss girder) of the gantry were prepared. Next, experimental analysis using these models was carried out in an aerodynamic tunnel to estimate the horizontal forces induced by the airflow acting on them. The experimental values of the aerodynamic forces were exploited to verify the 3D computational model of the studied structure. Numerical computations were carried out using the ANSYS Fluent 2022R2 system for both sectional models of the gantry crane mentioned above. The standard k-epsilon model of the turbulent flow of the air is employed. Satisfactory agreement of the values between the experimental and numerical results was achieved. As a result of the performed computations, the magnitude of the critical wind velocity that can be dangerous for the studied gantry cranes was estimated. Finally, a model of the gantry crane with box girder at full scale was analyzed using CFD simulations for different Davenport wind profiles. The results obtained from the experimental and numerical analysis of the sectional models were compared with the appropriate standards. In the current work, attention is drawn to the importance of changing wind direction in the vertical plane since, as shown in the results of this work, even a small change in vertical angle, up to 6°, causes significant changes in the value of the force required to overturn the gantry crane.

This paper presents the results of experimental, analytical, and numerical studies on determining the driving torque and power of a vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) with planetary blade motion forced by a carousel rotor. First, experimental studies in the wind tunnel laboratory were conducted to determine the tip speed ratio λ for the real-scale wind turbine model under self-starting conditions. Then, an analytical kinematic model of the turbine was developed. Finally, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was conducted to verify the analytical approach and examine aerodynamic interferences between particular turbine blades. The main objective of the study was to verify the accuracy of the simplified analytical approach to calculating the driving torque and turbine power compared to the numerical results based on 2D analysis using computational fluid dynamics. The obtained results showed good agreement considering the modeling of the motion of the three dual-coherent blades of the wind turbine. Comparing the analytical and CFD approaches, the error in determining the average driving torque and the average turbine power was about 1%. An additional objective of the study was to use the developed analytical method to calculate the starting torque and demonstrate the main advantage of the carousel wind rotor, which is its higher starting torque compared to the H-type Darrieus rotor.