Structural Optimisation of 3D Printed Small Diffuser Augmented Wind Turbine Blade Using Bi-directional Evolutionary Layout Optimisation Method

Abstract

This paper briefly describes the optimisation method and presents the results of the theoretical structural optimisation of a small wind turbine blade. The bi-directional evolutionary layout optimisation method was applied to the design of a 3D printed blade suitable for a diffuser augmented wind turbine. The turbine blades were manufactured (printed) with PET-G polymer, which required the mechanical properties of the material to be determined prior to the finite element modelling of the blade. Blade material properties used in this study were determined by means of simulation, with the aid of experimental results. This paper also presents the experimental results of the PET-G material analysis. After applying the bi-directional evolutionary layout optimisation method to the blade, a 15% reduction in blade mass was achieved without compromising its structural integrity.