Structural Consideration For Wind Turbine Blades

Abstract

This chapter states the methods for a blade breakage self-repair system with an innovative self-healing approach� To prevent blade breakage due to excessive wind speed, the methodology of self-healing technology can possibly be implemented with a self-healing wind turbine blade – a new and innovative concept for wind turbine blade design� The composite blades are manufactured using a laborious, hand lay-up technique with glass fibre reinforcements� The use of fibre-reinforced composite materials has grown rapidly and such composites are often used in aerospace and other applications; however, concerns remain about the structural integrity of composite materials following impact loading, as they are susceptible to cracks or delaminations that form deep within the structure� With the success of the self-healing technology for wind turbine blades, any cracked parts in wind turbine blades can be healed during operation without any system shutting down� Therefore, technology sheds light on the existing wind turbine failure prevention methods and provides new concepts and approaches for new materials of turbine blades suitable for the 21st century wind energy era�