AERSP 583 Syllabus

AERSP 583: Wind Turbine Aerodynamics

This syllabus is divided into several sections. You can read it sequentially by scrolling down the length of the document or by clicking on any of the links below to “jump” to a specific section. It is essential that you read the entire document as well as material covered in the Course Orientation. Together these serve as our course "contract."

• Instructor
• Course Overview
• Required Course Materials
• Assignments and Grading
• Course Schedule
• Course Policies

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Instructor

Dr. Susan W. Stewart
Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University.

• E-mail: Please use the course e-mail system (see the Inbox tab in Canvas).
• Office Hours: I will have virtual office hours 10:30 am - 12 pm ET on Wednesdays ( https://psu.zoom.us/j/7225048248 )
• I will also check for and reply to email messages at least once a day during the work week. I will make an effort to be online occassionally in the evenings and on weekends, but please don't count on it.  Email will often be the best way to get an efficient response in most situations. Please contact me to make an appointment if you’d like to meet virtually at a time outside of my office hours.

Course Overview

Suggested Prerequisites: Undergraduate Fluids/Aerodynamics. Solid knowledge of at least 1 programming language (e.g. MatLab, C++, Fortran, etc.) is highly recommended.

AERSP 583 focuses on the analysis and computational modeling of the aerodynamics of wind turbines and includes a blend of aerodynamic theory and computational methods used for the design of state-of-the-art wind turbines. Included in this is how to utilize design and analysis software employed by the industry.

Students will be provided with the knowledge and skills in aerodynamics required for a detailed understanding of the turbine design issues that impact siting and project development. Emphasis will be placed on the different levels of abstraction and sophistication in aerodynamic models for wind turbines as well as the critical evaluation of each model’s predictive capabilities.

This course builds on basic of fluid mechanics, structural mechanics, and systems engineering to provide students with an aerodynamic perspective of a wind turbine including an in-depth understanding of the factors that influence optimal performance.

When you successfully complete this course, you will be prepared to:

• Use the gained knowledge in wind turbine blade aerodynamics to predict the structural forces and moments experienced by modern utility-scale wind turbines
• Analyze a given wind turbine design with state-of-the-art analysis software currently used in the wind industry
• Design a modern multi-megawatt wind turbine blade

What I Expect of You

On average, most students spend 8-12 hours per week working on course material and assignments. Your workload may be more or less depending on your study habits.

I have worked hard to make this the most effective and convenient educational experience possible. The Internet may still be a novel learning environment for you, but in one sense it is no different than a traditional college class: how much and how well you learn is ultimately up to you. You will succeed if you are diligent about keeping up with the class schedule and if you take advantage of opportunities to communicate with me, as well as with your fellow students.

Specific learning objectives for each lesson and project are detailed within each lesson. The class schedule is published under the Syllabus tab in Canvas (the course management system used for this course).

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Required Course Materials

All materials needed for this course are presented online through our course website and in Canvas. In order to access all materials, you need to have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password (used to access the online course resources). If you have any questions about obtaining or activating your Penn State Access Account, please contact the Outreach Helpdesk (World Campus student) or IT Service Desk (all other campuses).

Starting in Spring 2021, we are recommending (but not requiring) that students have a copy of Dr. Schmitz's textbook "Aerodynamics of Wind Turbines: A Physical Basis for Analysis and Design" (2019) which is available through Wiley Publishing, ISBN 978-1-119-40564-1. Much of the course content can be found in the book, plus additional discussion and tutorials that those enrolled in this course will find useful. 

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Assignments and Grading

This course will rely upon a variety of methods to assess and evaluate student learning, including:

• Quizzes (15%): Each lesson is accompanied by a quiz that will assess understanding of the course material.
• Homework (35%): 6 homework assignments will be given in the semester. These will encourage the use of advanced critical thinking skills, allowing the students to incorporate a broad set of course concepts using a systems perspective. These assignments will be graded on the depth of research, accuracy of results, use of appropriate information sources, and clear communication of results.
• Exams (50%): A mid-semester exam will assess the student’s understanding of the course material and help provide intermediate feedback on course progress. A final comprehensive exam will assess the overall level of understanding of the material covered in the course.

It is important that your work be submitted in the proper format to the appropriate Canvas Dropbox or Discussion Forum and by the designated due date. Many of these activities require some interpretation and independent thinking on your part. As you are working on the assignment, you are encouraged to share ideas and questions you may have in the Discussion Forum located in Canvas. I strongly advise that you not wait until the last minute to complete these assignments—give yourself time to ask questions and think things over. You'll learn more and earn a higher grade!

I will use the Canvas gradebook to keep track of your assessments. You can see your grades in the gradebook, too, by clicking the Grades tab in the AERSP 583 space in Canvas.

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Course Policies

Mental Health Services

Mental health services are available to help you maintain your academic success. Visit the student website today to learn more or to speak with a mental health advocate who can help you address concerns including anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and stress. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis situation, please call your local emergency service.