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Title: Elasticity tailoring of a composite D-Spar: Progress report for calendar year 1998

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1258· OSTI ID:1258

There are many potential benefits to be gained from the aeroelastic behavior of a wind-turbine blade with bend-twist coupling. However, the ability to manufacture blades with sufficient coupling to provide the desired benefits has yet to be established. This report investigates the feasible (or practical) range of the coupling coefficient that can be obtained on a uniform cross-section composite D-spar, which could be the backbone of a wind-turbine-blade. The most critical parameters are identified and studied across a range of possible values. Various features, such as the geometry, skin thickness, ply distribution, ply materials, and ply orientations, are evaluated for their effect on twist-bend coupling of a D-spar. It is found that sufficient coupling can be built into the D-spar shape, but that carbon-fiber composite plies angled between 15 and 30 degrees to the longitudinal axis may be required.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
1258
Report Number(s):
SAND-98-1750; EB250000000; ON: DE00001258
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English