Abstract
Abstract. Full-scale structural tests enable us to monitor the mechanical response of the blades under various loading scenarios. Yet, these tests must be accompanied by numerical simulations so that the physical basis of the progressive damage development can be better interpreted and understood. In this work, finite element analysis is utilized to investigate the strength characteristics of an existing 5 m RÜZGEM composite wind turbine blade under extreme flapwise, edgewise and combined flapwise plus edgewise loading conditions. For this purpose, in addition to a linear buckling analysis, Puck's (2D) physically based phenomenological model is used for the progressive damage analysis of the blade. The 5 m RÜZGEM blade is found to exhibit sufficient resistance against buckling. However, Puck's damage model indicates that laminate failure plays a major role in the ultimate blade failure. Under extreme flapwise and combined load cases, the internal flange at the leading edge and the trailing edge are identified as the main damaged regions. Under edgewise loading, the leading edge close to the root is the failure region. When extreme load case is applied as a combination of edgewise and flapwise loading cases, less damage is observed compared to the pure flapwise loading case.
Highlights
As fundamental eco-friendly renewable energy resources, wind turbines are designed to operate over a lifespan of 20 years
During testing of the 10.3 m blade, local buckling of shear webs and flatback airfoils was observed, composite laminate failure in these locations was not observed. These results show the possibility of different failure mechanisms for different blade sizes
This section begins with a linear buckling analysis, followed by the progressive failure analysis of the blade under extreme flapwise, edgewise and combined loading conditions
Summary
As fundamental eco-friendly renewable energy resources, wind turbines are designed to operate over a lifespan of 20 years. According to Holmes et al (2007), the long-term structural reliability of wind turbine components is vital when the high cost of manufacturing, inspection and repair, especially for turbines located in remote regions, is considered. Composite blades are among the most critical components of a wind turbine, which are subjected to complex loading conditions. In order to assure sufficient mechanical resistance, structural testing and analysis must be conducted. For a better understanding and interpretation of the progressive damage development, tests need to be accompanied by numerical analysis methods (Chen et al, 2017). Structural analyses are utilized to calibrate structural blade test set-ups for different loading conditions
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