One particular problem with structures operating in seas is the so-called fatigue phenomenon. Cyclic loads imposed by waves and winds can cause structural failure after a number of cycles. Traditional methods have some limitations. This paper presents a developed design framework based on fracture mechanics for offshore wind turbine support structures which enables design engineers to maximise the use of available inspection capabilities and optimise the design and inspection, simultaneously.

This paper considers the modelling of wind turbine main bearings using analytical models. The validity of simplified analytical representations is explored by comparing main-bearing force reactions with those obtained from higher-fidelity 3D finite-element models. Results indicate that good agreement can be achieved between the analytical and 3D models in the case of both non-moment-reacting (such as for a spherical roller bearing) and moment-reacting (such as a tapered roller bearing) set-ups.

Leading edge erosion is an ever-existing damage issue on wind turbine blades. This paper presents the numerical finite element analysis model for incorporating a new leading edge protection component for offshore applications, which is manufactured from thermoplastic polyurethane, into wind turbine blade designs. The model has been validated against experimental trials at demonstrator level, comparing the deflection and strains during testing, and then applied to a full-scale wind turbine blade.

Wind turbine blade prototypes undergo structural tests before they are used in the field so that any design failure can be detected prior to their operation. In this study, strength characteristics of a small-scale existing 5 m composite wind turbine blade is carried out utilizing the finite-element-method software package Ansys. The results show that the blade exhibits sufficient resistance against buckling. Yet, laminate failure is found to play a major role in the ultimate blade failure.

This work addresses the mechanical modelling of complex beamlike structures, which may be curved, twisted and tapered in their reference state and undergo large displacements, 3D cross-sectional warping and small strains. A model suitable for the problem at hand is proposed. It can be used to analyze large deflections under prescribed loads and determine the stress and strain fields in the structure. Analytical and numerical results obtained by applying the proposed modelling approach are shown.

When a new rotor blade is designed, a prototype needs to be qualified by testing in two separate directions before it can be used in the field. These tests are time-consuming and expensive. Combining these two tests into one by applying loads in two directions simultaneously is a possible method to reduce time and costs. This paper presents a new computational method, which is capable of designing these complex tests and shows exemplarily that the combined test is faster than traditional tests.

Geometrically nonlinear blade modeling effects on the turbine loads and computation time are investigated in an aero-elastic code based on multibody formulation. A large number of fatigue load cases are used in the study. The results show that the nonlinearities become prominent for large and flexible blades. It is possible to run nonlinear models without significant increase in computational time compared to the linear model by changing the matrix solver type from dense to sparse.

This paper presents a review of existing theory and practice relating to main bearings for wind turbines. Topics covered include wind conditions and resulting rotor loads, main-bearing models, damage mechanisms and fault detection procedures.

In the frame of a multi-body simulation of a wind turbine, the lowest rotor blade eigenmodes are used to describe their elastic deformations. In this paper, a finite Timoshenko beam element is proposed based on the transfer matrix method. The element stiffness and mass matrices are derived by numerical integration of the differential equations of motion. A numerical example with generic rotor blade data demonstrates the performance of the method in comparison with FAST/ADAMS software results.

Wind turbines are exposed to harsh weather, leading to surface defects on rotor blades emerging from the first day of operation. Defects grow quickly and affect the performance of wind turbines. Thus, there is demand for an easily applicable remote-inspection method that is sensitive to small surface defects. In this work we show that infrared thermography can meet these requirements by visualizing differences in the surface temperature of the rotor blades downstream of surface defects.

This paper presents an experimental investigation of the tensile strength of fiberglass–epoxy composites before and after water saturation. The strengths of [0], [90], and [0/90] layups all show a drop in tensile strength. However, investigation of the data, damaged coupons, and acoustic emission events illustrates a change in the mechanism governing final failure between the dry and saturated coupons. This illustrates the complexity of strength prediction of multiple layups after saturation.

This research was conducted with the help of computer models to give argumentation on how the reliability of wind turbine rotor blade structures can be increased using subcomponent testing (SCT) as a supplement to full-scale blade testing (FST). It was found that the use of SCT can significantly reduce the testing time compared to FST while replicating more realistic loading conditions for an outboard blade segment as it occurs in the field.

Modern wind turbines all share the ability to turn (pitch) the blades around their main axis. By pitching the blades, the aerodynamic forces created by the blades are controlled. Rolling bearings, consisting of two steel rings and balls that roll on raceways between them, are used to allow pitching. To design pitch drives, it is necessary to know the losses within the bearings. This article describes how such losses have been measured and compares them with calculation models.

Given the rapid growth and large scale of wind turbines, it is important that wind farms achieve maximum availability by reducing downtime due to maintenance and failures. The Blade Reliability Collaborative, led by Sandia National Laboratories and sponsored by the US DOE, was formed to address this issue. A comprehensive study to characterize and understand the manufacturing flaws common in blades, and their impact on blade life, was performed by measuring and testing commonly included defects.

The Blade Reliability Collaborative was formed to address wind turbine blade reliability. To better understand and predict these effects, various progressive damage modeling approaches, built upon the characterization previously addressed, were investigated. The results indicate that a combined continuum–discrete approach provides insight into reliability with known defects when used in conjunction with a probabilistic flaw framework.

The modal dynamics of wind turbines are the fingerprints of their responses under the stochastic excitation from the wind field. Commercial wind turbines have typically three-bladed rotors, and their modal dynamics are well understood. Two-bladed turbines are still commercially less successful, and this work also shows that their modal dynamics are significantly more complex than that of turbines with three or more blades.