Thermoplastic Composite Wind Turbine Blades: An Integrated Design Approach

Title

Thermoplastic Composite Wind Turbine Blades: An Integrated Design Approach

 Author

Joncas, S.

Contributor

Van Kuik, G.A.M. (promotor)
Bersee, H.E.N. (promotor)

Faculty

Aerospace Engineering

 Department

Design and Production of Composite Structures

 Date

2010-07-13

 Abstract

This thesis proposes a new structural design concept for future large wind turbine blades based on fully recyclable thermoplastic composites (TPC). With respect to material properties, cost and processing, reactively processed anionic polyamide-6 (APA-6) has been identified as the most promising thermoplastic polymer system for these future wind turbine blades. After mechanically characterizing in situ polymerized APA-6/glass composites and assessing their recyclability, TPC oriented blade designs were developed following an integrated finite-element approach based on topology and size optimization techniques. Results showed that when compared to today’s classic epoxy-based blade design, this TPC oriented design could reduced blade mass by 3% for identical structural performances. Furthermore, due to the presence of ribs in the design, aerodynamic profile and shear web distortion can be significantly reduced.

 Subject

wind turbine blade
thermoplastic composite
structural optimization
anionic polyamide-6

 To reference this document use:

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:a0bc538a-c447-44c8-bf56-4a9090211b98

 ISBN

9782921145732

 Part of collection

Institutional Repository

 Document type

doctoral thesis

 Rights

(c) 2010 Joncas, S.
Files
PDF Thesis_S_Joncas_July1st.pdf 9.22 MB
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