Structural Analysis of Composite Wind Blade Using Finite Element Technique

유한요소기법을 이용한 복합재 풍력 블레이드 구조해석

This study evaluates the structural safety of wind turbine blades, analyzes the behavior of composite laminate structures with and without defects, and assesses surface erosion wear. The NREL 5 MW standard is applied to assign accurate composite material properties to each blade section. Modeling and analysis of the wind turbine blades reveal stable behavior under individual load conditions (gravity, motor speed, wind speed), with the web bearing most of the load. Surface erosion wear analysis in which microparticle impacts are simulated on the blade coating shows a maximum stress and maximum displacement of 14 MPa and 0.02 mm, respectively, indicating good initial durability, but suggest potential long-term performance issues due to cumulative effects. The study examines defect effects on composite laminate structures to compare the stress distribution, strain, and stiffness characteristics between normal and cracked states. Although normal conditions exhibit stable behavior, crack defects lead to fiber breakage, high-stress concentration in the vulnerable resin layer, and decreased rigidity. This demonstrates that local defects can compromise the safety of the entire structure. The study utilizes finite element analysis to simulate various load scenarios and defect conditions. Results show that even minor defects can significantly alter stress distributions and potentially lead to catastrophic failure if left unaddressed. These findings provide valuable insights for wind turbine blade safety evaluations, surface protection strategies, and composite structure health management. The methodology and results can inform the design improvements, maintenance strategies, and defect detection techniques of the wind energy industry.