Case Study: Clemson University achieves safe, efficient real‑time wind‑turbine test‑bench simulation with Dassault Systèmes (SIMULIA/SIMPACK)

Clemson University - Customer Case Study

Clemson University operates a Wind Turbine Drivetrain Testing Facility (WTDTF) with 7.5MW and 15MW dynamometer test benches but faced the challenge that these large, expensive, and complex rigs are risky and impractical for routine student training or repeatable study of rare wind‑driven events. To create a safe, controllable intermediary between pure simulation and physical testing, Clemson turned to Dassault Systemes technology, using SIMPACK from SIMULIA to build real‑time, multi‑body simulation models of complete turbine nacelles and test‑bench systems.

Using Dassault Systemes’ SIMPACK integrated with Simulink in a hardware‑in‑the‑loop real‑time lab, Clemson implemented virtual test benches that interact with control computers and I/O hardware to emulate full‑scale mechanical and electrical loads. The solution lets engineers, researchers, and students develop test profiles, troubleshoot systems, and train personnel without using the physical rigs — replicating wind turbine behavior safely, efficiently, and cost‑effectively, increasing test‑bench utilization and enabling repeatable study of rare load cases.

Clemson University