Dynamic Properties of a Heliostat Structure Determined by Numerical and Experimental Modal Analysis

Abstract

An experimental and numerical modal analysis was performed on an 8 m2 Tshaped heliostat structure at different elevation angles. The experimental results were used to validate a finite element (FE) model by comparing natural frequencies and mode shapes. The agreement between experiments and simulations is good in all operating points investigated. In addition, damping coefficients were determined experimentally for each mode, in order to provide all necessary information for the development of a dynamic model. Furthermore, potentially critical operating conditions caused by vortex shedding were identified using a simple approach.