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Title: Characterization of waviness in wind turbine blades using air coupled ultrasonics

Journal Article · · AIP Conference Proceedings
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3592041· OSTI ID:21511654
; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Center for Nondestructive Evaluation and Department of Aerospace Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 (United States)

Waviness in glass fiber reinforced composite is of great interest in composite research, since it results in the loss of stiffness. Several NDE techniques have been used previously to detect waviness. This work is concerned with waves normal to the plies in a composite. Air-coupled ultrasonics was used to detect waviness in thick composites used in the manufacturing of wind turbine blades. Composite samples with different wave aspect ratios were studied. Different wavy samples were characterized, and a three step process was developed to make sure the technique is field implementable. This gives us a better understanding of the effect of waviness in thick composites, and how it affects the life and performance of the composite.

OSTI ID:
21511654
Journal Information:
AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1335, Issue 1; Conference: Review of progress in quantitative nondestructive evaluation, San Diego, CA (United States), 18-23 Jul 2010; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3592041; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0094-243X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English