Investigation of bamboo-based vertical axis wind turbine blade under static loading

Abstract

Bamboo fiber composites are recyclable, low cost, high strength, and biodegradable compared to synthetic composites. Fiber-reinforced polymer composites such as glass and carbon fibers are extensively used as wind turbine blades followed by a major challenge of recycling and waste disposal etc. The present work investigates the suitability of bamboo-epoxy composite for vertical-axis wind turbine blades. The NACA 0015 and NACA 4415 blade profile has been chosen for study. The static structural analysis of blades is performed using various cross-ply and angle-ply layups. Results demonstrated that layup [45°/90°/0°/-45°]S obtained the minimum values of stress and deflection. The effect of shear webs is also analyzed. It is observed that the blade with two shear webs showed the minimum values of stress and deflection. The unidirectional strength of the composite material is also compared with the maximum design stress and found under acceptable limits. Additionally, the stress and deflection of the bamboo composite blades are compared with conventional blade materials. The stress and deflection on the non-symmetric bamboo-epoxy composite blade with double shear webs are obtained as 15.84 MPa and 4.45 mm which is observed to be decreased by 70.98% (stress) and 1.11% (deflection) respectively in comparison with glass-epoxy blade. Through the structural analysis, it is recommended that the designed blade with natural bamboo composite is acceptable for structural safety.