Effects of defects in composite wind turbine blades – Part 3: A framework for treating defects as uncertainty variables for blade analysis
Given that wind turbine blades are large structures, the use of low-cost composite manufacturing processes and materials has been necessary for the industry to be cost competitive. Since these manufacturing methods can lead to the inclusion of unwanted defects, potentially reducing blade life, t...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2018-03-01
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| Series: | Wind Energy Science |
| Online Access: | https://www.wind-energ-sci.net/3/107/2018/wes-3-107-2018.pdf |
| Summary: | Given that wind turbine blades are large structures, the use of
low-cost composite manufacturing processes and materials has been necessary
for the industry to be cost competitive. Since these manufacturing methods
can lead to the inclusion of unwanted defects, potentially reducing blade life,
the Blade Reliability Collaborative tasked the Montana State University
Composites Group with assessing the effects of these defects. Utilizing the
results of characterization and mechanical testing studies, probabilistic
models were developed to assess the reliability of a wind blade with known
defects. As such, defects were found to be best assessed as design parameters
in a parametric probabilistic analysis allowing for establishment of a
consistent framework to validate categorization and analysis. Monte Carlo
simulations were found to adequately describe the probability of failure of
composite blades with included defects. By treating defects as random
variables, the approaches utilized indicate the level of conservation used in
blade design may be reduced when considering fatigue. In turn, safety factors
may be reduced as some of the uncertainty surrounding blade failure is
reduced when analyzed with application specific data. Overall, the results
indicate that characterization of defects and reduction of design uncertainty
is possible for wind turbine blades. |
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| ISSN: | 2366-7443 2366-7451 |