Numerical modelling of the bonding process for wind turbine blades: model validation

Adhesive is typically used in the joint between the two shells composing a wind turbine blade. Thebonding process of a blade can be characterized as a squeeze flow problem where the top shell is forcedtowards the bottom shell, resulting in a deformation in the adhesive. In this study, a 3-D numerical modelis developed in order to analyse adhesive propagation in squeeze flow problems with 3-D flow effects.The model is validated by comparison with an experiment where a rectangular prism shaped adhesivesample is squeezed between two parallel plates.

In the numerical model the rheological behaviour of theadhesive is approximated with the Bingham material model. The numerical model is in good agreementwith the experimental results. In the future, the model will be used to optimize the bonding process ofwind turbine blades, save weight and reduce the levelized cost of energy.