Abstract
Complex engineering challenges are revealed in the wind industry; one of them is erosion at the leading edge of wind turbine blades. Water jet erosive wear tests on carbon-fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and glass-fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) were performed in order to determine their resistance at the conditions tested. Vacuum Infusion Process (VIP) was used to obtain the composite materials. Eight layers of bidirectional carbon fabric (0/90°) and nine glass layers of bidirectional glass cloth were used to manufacture the plates. A water injection platform was utilized. The liquid was projected with a pressure of 150 bar on the surface of the specimens through a nozzle. The samples were located at 65 mm from the nozzle at an impact angle of 75°, with an exposure time of 10, 20 and 30 min. SEM and optical microscopy were used to observe the damage on surfaces. A 3D optical profilometer helped to determine the roughness and see the scar profiles. The results showed that the volume loss for glass fiber and carbon fiber were 10 and 19 mm3, respectively. This means that the resistance to water jet erosion in uncoated glass fiber was approximately two times lower than uncoated carbon fiber.
Highlights
IntroductionMany experimental test rigs have been developed in order to study the erosion on different structural materials [1,2]
Published: 31 August 2021Water jet erosion is a wear complex phenomenon that is very difficult to simulate.During decades, many experimental test rigs have been developed in order to study the erosion on different structural materials [1,2]
Wind turbine blades are developed with an optimal strength–weight ratio; composite materials are widely used for this application [3]
Summary
Many experimental test rigs have been developed in order to study the erosion on different structural materials [1,2]. Wind turbine blades are developed with an optimal strength–weight ratio; composite materials are widely used for this application [3]. The authors have investigated the effect of erosion in composite materials in order to simulate this kind of wear on the leading edge of wind turbine blades [4]. Experimental tests have led to a useful but incomplete understanding of the phenomenon of raindrop erosion, the effect of different erosion parameters and a general classification of materials based on their ability to resist erosion. Erosion tests are carried out only to obtain a qualitative assessment of the erosion resistance of materials, as well as to understand their erosive behavior. There are several rain erosion test platforms reported in the literature, in particular rotating platforms, jet erosion platforms, single drop impact platforms and wind tunnel erosion tests [5], in this study the wear will be evaluated using water jet
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