Design Considerations for Buckling in ComDosite Wind Turbine Blades

TLDR: In this paper, a methodology for the design of composite wind turbine blades against buckling using finite element models is presented. Butler et al. provided a basic overview of the buckling prob lem, followed by design and analysis methodologies, and good experimental/analytical correlations were found for this complicated, nonlinear problem.

Abstract: In this paper, design considerations, analysis techniques, and experimental ver&cation for bucklingcritical designs are provided. This presentation begins with a basic overview of the buckling prob lem, followed by design and analysis methodologies. Simple shell analyses are discussed, along with detailed, large deflection finite element post-buckling responses of typical wind turbine blade structures. An experimental verification program is reviewed with analytical/experimental correlations for stiffened, sandwich panel configurations. The basic results for this study are correlations for criticaland post-buckling structural responses for composite sub-structures that may be used in wind turbine blades. Good experimental/analytical correlations were found for this complicated, nonlinear problem. A methodology is provided for the design of composite wind turbine blades against buckling using finite element models.