Darrieus wind turbine analysis - Airfoil bending stress Page 1 of 2

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Airfoil bending stress

Two main loads on the airfoils are the centrifugal force and the aerodynamics drag and lift.
The rough comparison of these forces at below shows that the aerodynamic forces are
small compare to the centrifugal force for this model’s material, solidity, and operating
speed, so it was neglected in the following calculation. To find the centrifugal force, the
rotor was estimated (prior to testing) to have a maximum rotor tsr of 3 and subjected to
maximum wind speed of 5m/s.

The strength property of the jelutong wood was not available at that time so a simple test
was conducted to test its strength. The airfoils are NACA0015 with chord of 7cm and length
of 50cm. The rough sanded airfoils weigh 0.149, 0.141, and 0.126kg (almost 20%
difference) respectively. These airfoils will be supported at the centre, so the centrifugal
force will cause highest bending stress at the centre where the airfoils joint to the support
arms. To test the airfoil strength, both sides of the airfoil were loaded with dumbbell weights
before it was lifted off by holding (balancing using hand) the centre of the airfoil as shown in
the figure below.

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Darrieus wind turbine analysis - Airfoil bending stress Page 2 of 2

Testing the strength of jelutong wood airfoil

At maximum tsr of 3 and wind speed of 5m/s, the total centrifugal force on the airfoils will be
0.149kg times 90, which is 14kg. To produce ‘equivalent’ maximum bending stress at the
centre of airfoil, the point load needed at the centre of both sides of airfoil will be 14kg / 2 =
7kg. The airfoil was tested with maximum dumbbell mass of 6.5kg at both sides with
distance of 12.5cm from the centre The deflection of airfoil under this load was clearly
visible but the wood airfoil did not break. Stress concentration is definitely lower when
balancing using hand instead of the actual support, which is four pieces of flat washers.

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Last updated at November 6, 2002
Comments are welcomed

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