SunLink's technical expertise is the hallmark of the Company's continued success and adoption. Since its inception, the Company has focused on creating a multi-faceted, state-of-the-art research and development program. Comprised of extensive wind tunnel testing and analysis, component and system modeling, finite element analysis, mechanical load testing, structural frame analysis, electrical bond testing, wire management modeling and materials environmental testing, SunLink's industry-leading R&D effort delivers PV integration solutions that are safer, easier-to-install and less expensive.
WIND TUNNEL TESTING
Since 2004, SunLink has funded an extensive multi-year testing program aimed at understanding the effect of wind on rooftop mounted solar arrays. Comprehensive testing of SunLink’s various mounting systems in boundary layer wind tunnels has served as the cornerstone of this testing program. As a result, the SunLink team has become one of the world’s leading experts in the effects of wind on roof-mounted solar arrays, and is able to provide customers with ASCE-7 Method 3 compliant wind load reports for permitting of projects.
SunLink and its R&D partners at the University of Western Ontario’s Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Laboratory (BLWTL) and structural engineering firm Rutherford and Chekene (R&C) have released the first in what will be a series of publications focused on designing for wind loads on solar arrays: Rooftop Solar Arrays and Wind Loading: A Primer on Using Wind Tunnel Testing as a Basis for Code Compliant Design per ASCE 7.
The Rooftop Solar Arrays and Wind Loading primer is intended to assist building officials, structural engineers and other industry professionals tasked with reviewing proposed PV array systems with issues related to wind loading and on the appropriate use of wind tunnel testing as a basis for design. It also addresses the applicability of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), which is sometimes proposed as an alternative to testing.
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ADVANCED STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
Combined with the results derived from SunLink’s wind tunnel test program, SunLink has developed advanced non-linear structural analysis models to analyze the performance of SunLink’s products under different loading conditions. These computer models have been refined and calibrated through a rigorous physical testing program, in which various load patterns were applied and the results measured (e.g. deflection, deformation, failure).
Using these models and the results of SunLink’s wind tunnel test program, SunLink can configure its products for each project to most efficiently meet the needed safety and performance requirements. Simply put, this means that SunLink rooftop arrays can be lightweight with no or few penetrations and still meet all permitting requirements.
SEISMIC TESTING AND ANALYSIS
SunLink has taken a similar approach to the seismic analysis of roof mount, ballasted PV systems. Through extensive testing and R&D, SunLink has developed an advanced performance model of its system under various seismic conditions. SunLink can bring the results of this effort to bear in helping our customers permit non-penetrating arrays in seismically active areas.
All of these industry leading testing and analysis programs stem from SunLink’s passion for engineering. They explain SunLink’s leadership position within the PV mounting systems industry, and illustrate why SunLink is “Engineering the Solar Revolution.”