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Base excitation testing system using spring elements to pivotally mount wind turbine blades

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1109490
; ; ;
A system (1100) for fatigue testing wind turbine blades (1102) through forced or resonant excitation of the base (1104) of a blade (1102). The system (1100) includes a test stand (1112) and a restoring spring assembly (1120) mounted on the test stand (1112). The restoring spring assembly (1120) includes a primary spring element (1124) that extends outward from the test stand (1112) to a blade mounting plate (1130) configured to receive a base (1104) of blade (1102). During fatigue testing, a supported base (1104) of a blad (1102) may be pivotally mounted to the test stand (1112) via the restoring spring assembly (1120). The system (1100) may include an excitation input assembly (1140) that is interconnected with the blade mouting plate (1130) to selectively apply flapwise, edgewise, and/or pitch excitation forces. The restoring spring assemply (1120) may include at least one tuning spring member (1127) positioned adjacent to the primary spring element (1124) used to tune the spring constant or stiffness of the primary spring element (1124) in one of the excitation directions.
Research Organization:
NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States))
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308;
Assignee:
Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC (Golden, CO)
Patent Number(s):
8,601,878
Application Number:
12/990,069
OSTI ID:
1109490
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (2)

Structural health monitoring of wind turbine blades
  • Rumsey, Mark A.; Paquette, Joshua A.
  • The 15th International Symposium on: Smart Structures and Materials & Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, SPIE Proceedings https://doi.org/10.1117/12.778324
conference May 2008
New Method for Dual-Axis Fatigue Testing of Large Wind Turbine Blades Using Resonance Excitation and Spectral Loading report March 2004

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Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY