Journal article
Structural testing and numerical simulation of a 34~m composite wind turbine blade
Wind Turbines, Wind Energy Division, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Technical University of Denmark1
Wind Energy Division, Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Technical University of Denmark2
Risø National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Technical University of Denmark3
Imperial College London4
Section for Structural Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Denmark5
Department of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Denmark6
A full-scale 34m composite wind turbine blade was tested to failure under flap-wise loading. Local displacement measurement equipment was developed and displacements were recorded throughout the loading history.Ovalization of the load carrying box girder was measured in the full-scale test and simulated in non-linear FE-calculations.
The non-linear Brazier effect is characterized by a crushing pressure which causes the ovalization. To capture this effect, non-linear FE-analyses at different scales were employed. A global non-linear FE-model of the entire blade was prepared and the boundaries to a more detailed sub-model were extracted.
The FE-model was calibrated based on full-scale test measurements.Local displacement measurements helped identify the location of failure initiation which lead to catastrophic failure. Comparisons between measurements and FE-simulations showed that delamination of the outer skin was the initial failure mechanism followed by delamination buckling which then led to collapse.
| Language: | English |
|---|---|
| Year: | 2006 |
| Pages: | 52-61 |
| ISSN: | 18791085 and 02638223 |
| Types: | Journal article |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.compstruct.2006.06.008 |
| ORCIDs: | Stang, Henrik |
