Fiber Orientation Effect on the Behavior of the

Composite Materials of the Horizontal Axis Wind

Turbine Blade (HAWTB)
2PDU5DMDGD 0RXQLU+DPLGD6DwIHG'vQ)HUWDKLE$EGHOODWLI(O0DUMDQLD
a
EMISys Research Team Engineering 3S Research, Mohammedia School of Engineers, Université Mohammed V,
Avenue Ibn Sina, Agdal B.P 765, Rabat, Morocco
b
High School of Technology (EST), University of Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah (USMBA),
Imouzzer Road BP 2427, Fez, Morocco
Email: *Omarrajad@research.emi.ac.ma

Abstract— The use of composite materials has increased numerical studies, in order to improve their aerodynamic
significantly, especially in the manufacture of wind turbine performance, their structural design, and their manufacturing
blades. Therefore the mechanical behaviors of these materials process [2].
have to be evaluated. In this work four composite materials were
investigated (Carbon fiber, Kevlar49 fiber, E-glass fibers and S-
Currently, wind turbine blades are now so large that gravity
glass fibers). A developed model under Ansys Composite Prepost and inertia loads have started to dominate more than
(ACP) has been used to assess the mechanical strength and aerodynamic loads. Therefore, major importance is assigned to
stiffness of the composite blade to determine the optimal decrease their weight throughout the miscellaneous studies
configuration. In this context, parametric studies were carried [3].
out, in order to evaluate the fiber orientation and material Research studies performed at the Department of Wind
properties effect on the mechanical behavior of multilayered
blade. The results show that the configurations (Carbon fiber, ±
Energy at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU Wind
35), (Kevlar49 fiber, ± 35) and (Kevlar49 fiber, ± 45) are the most Energy) [4] on wind turbine blades have shown that classical
efficient configurations in terms of resistance to mechanical failure mechanisms such as buckling, material failure, etc., are
stress. Besides, the orientation configuration 90/0 support more not enough to determine the design of the blades [5].Besides,
than the other suggested configurations to flexural displacement other failure mechanisms need to be taken into account to
with approximately 34.14 mm for the Carbon ± 55 configuration. design with accuracy the turbine’s blade [6].
Keywords- Blade composite structures; Fiber orientation;Fiber In the meantime, the scientific research field in composite
materials; Computational structures; ACP. materials behavior has become very topical right now [7]. For
instance, a relevant study was conducted to assess the blade
Shear stress
Nomenclature τ
(MPa) composite materials performance [8]. It should be noted that
the performance and the lifespan of the turbine’s blades
Young’s modulus
E (GPa)
ν Poisson’s ratio depend on several properties, since there are various elements
that characterize these blades: the length, the width, the airfoil
Shear modulus
G (GPa) Abbreviations profile and also the materials that go into their constitution [9].
In fact, these elements are determined through calculation
Ansys hypothesis and assumptions or at the base of specific criteria
Greek symbols ACP composite
prepost such as the cost, the resistance to weather conditions etc. [10].
Recently, Cardenas et al. [11] assessed the progression of
Finite element
ɛ Deformation FEM
analysis aeroelastic damage in wind turbine blades using one-
dimensional model known as thin-wall beam model. This
Horizontal
σ Normal stress (MPa) HAWTB axis wind
method allows the reconstruction of a three-dimensional stress
turbine blade field of a volume given by the blade. The calculated stress
field helps to assess the damage. Hence, to predict local
amendments that must be assigned to the structural properties
I. INTRODUCTION
to support the carried loads.
Wind turbines have grown substantially in dimension over In this paper, numerical studies have been carried out to
the past years, since they were introduced in 1980 [1]. Hence, investigate the fiber orientation effect and the fiber materials
the first techno-economical investigations on wind turbines effect on the structure of the multilayered wind blade designed
technologies (horizontal/vertical) have begun and the blade by Kam et al. [12]. In fact, a numerical model has been
manufacturers carried out the necessary experimental and

 
 
developed under ACP code to assess the mechanical strength
and the stiffness of the blade to conclude on the optimal
configuration. Therefore, valid results have been found,
evaluating the effect of fiber materials and fiber orientations.

II. STRUCTURAL PROPERTY OF HAWTB

A. Blade fibers materials

1. Carbon fiber
Fibers of carbon are about 5 to 10 micrometers in diameter
and constituted for the most part of carbon atoms. Indeed,
carbon fibers have relevant advantages including high
stiffness, high tensile strength and low weight [13]. These
properties have made carbon fibers very popular in wind
energy applications. However, they are relatively expensive
compared to glass fibers or Kevlar fibers [14].
2. Kevlar fiber
Kevlar fibers are used since 1970s to replace steel in racing
tires. Moreover, they are used as fabric in composite materials
components, due to their high level of tensile strength and
stiffness to weight ratio, also for having low level of vibrations
[15].
3. Glass fiber
The glass fibers have good mechanical properties such as
the elongation limit before they break compared to carbon
Figure 1: General types of fiber orientation in composites used in the
fibers, E-glass and S-glass. Thinner filaments can bend further manufacturing of the wind blades and their projection in our blade structure,
before they break. Besides, glass fibers are among the most (a, 1) unidirectional fiber, (a, 2) bidirectional in the longitudinal plane, (a, 3)
versatile industrial materials known today. They are readily tridirectional laminate. (b) the use of fiber orientation in composite structures
produced from raw materials [16], which are available in [19], (c) the considered composite blade structure.
virtually unlimited supply. All glass fibers described in this
article are derived from compositions containing silica. They III. DESCRIPTION OF THE CASE STUDIES
exhibit useful bulk properties such as hardness, stability, and This paper presents two relevant parametric studies
inertness, as well as desirable fiber properties such as strength, evaluating the wind blade of a horizontal
flexibility, and stiffness [17]. Glass fibers are used in the axis turbine, that aim to enhance the mechanical strength of
manufacture of structural composites of the wind and tidal the blade structure using numerical simulations.
blades and constructions of ships and planes due to their
strength and density. TABLE I: NUMBER OF LAYERS FOR EACH RANGE OF THE BLADE
SKIN.
B. Fiber orientation description Twist Number of blade Number of
Layer range (mm)
angle βT skin layers Spar layers
Fiber orientation is usually considered while 0<x<440 10
manufacturing wind blades [18], because they become highly 440<x<830 7
20.11 6
resistant to shear forces and the transversal unidirectional plies 830<x<1610 5
are incorporated to sustain compressive forces. Biaxial, tri- 1610<x<2420 3
axial and unidirectional fabrics are used in the construction of
the blades that are composed by flanges, shear webs, top and
button skins, root and others as shown in Fig. 2. Fig.1 presents
the fiber orientation configuration, which is possible for the
design of the multilayered composite blade.
 the finite element solver ACP. The physical model, which
links the stress to the strain, helps to assess the contours of
displacement, strain and stress of the blade subjected to the
mechanical loading and to achieve accurate numerical results
in some specific zones, which are difficult to access
experimentally.
The ACP solver can extract very useful information to
investigate the suggested design of the composite blade. The
physical modeling is based on the following equations.
A. Equilibrium equations
The stress tensor inside the computational domain satisfies
the equilibrium Eq.1 [20]:
wV x wW yx wW zx
   fx 0
wx wy wz
wW xy wV y wW zy
   f y 0 (1)
wx wy wz
Figure 2: Blade structure composition. wW xz wW yz wV z
   fz 0
wx wy wz
The aim of first parametric study is to strengthen the blade
by changing the fiber material. In fact, the materials that were B. Constitutive equations
considered are listed as follows: E-glass and S-glass, Carbon Constitutive equations are developed for each layer as Eq.2
and Kevlar49. While the second parametric study aims to [21]:
predict the mechanical behavior of the blade by changing the
fiber orientation. Indeed, the considered four materials in the Vx
Ex
(1  X12X 21 )
>
H x  X 21H y @
first parametric study have been assigned as materials for the
fibers and Epoxy for the blade’s matrix. Vy
Ey
(1  X12X 21 )
>H y  X12H x @ (2)

W xy 2G12H xy

C. Compatibility equations
Compatibility equations are demonstrated in equations Eq.3
[22]:
w 2H 11 w 2H 23 w 2H 13 w 2 H 12
 
wx 2 wx3 wx12 wx1wx 2 wx1wx3
w 2H 22 w 2H 13 w 2H 23 w 2H 12
 
wx1wx3 wx 22 wx1wx 2 wx 2 wx3
w 2H 33 w 2H 12 w 2H 13 w 2H 23
  (3)
wx1wx 2 wx32 wx1wx3 wx1wx3
w H 11 w H 33
2 2
w H 13
2
 2
wx32 wx12 wx1wx3
w 2H 22 w 2H 33 w 2H 23
 2
wx32 wx22 wx2 wx3
w 2H 11 w 2H 22 w 2H 12
 2
wx22 wx12 wx1wx2

V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Figure 3: Composite structure of the blade designed by Kam et al. [12].
IV. GOVERNING EQUATIONS
The physical model section highlights the equations used by
Initially, two parametric studies have been conducted on the
blade structure. It is noted that the Whiffle tree method [12]
has been used to convert the distribute wind loads (P1) and
(P2) into a two concentrated forces at a particular locations
(x1) and (x2) (Fig.4-b) on the top skin of the blade structure
and it was fixed in root as presented in Fig.2. Moreover,
42Kgf was considered as applied load. The fiber orientations
that have been treated are ±35, ±45, ±55 and 90/0.

Figure 4: (a) The considered path (1-2) used during the numerical calculation
phase. (b) Applied charges on the blade structure P1 and P2.
Figure 5: Total displacements obtained from the path (1-2) presented the two
The mechanical properties of the fiber materials considered parametric studies for different fiber orientations.
in these studies are presented in the table II.
Low displacement values have been observed for Kevlar49
TABLE II: FIBER MATERIAL PROPERTIES.
in all fiber orientation considered due to his stiffness and
Glass Kevlar
Carbon
E S 49 resistance compared to other materials [24]. The table III
Volume exposes the maximal values according to our blade structure.
0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6
fraction Vf
Density ρc TABLE III: MAXIMAL VALUE OF DISPLACEMENTS.
1545 2042 2010 1375
(Kg/m3)
Longitudinal Fiber Maximal value of
Fiber orientation
Young’s material Displacements (mm)
161 45 51 85 ±35 163.44
Properties modulus EL
measured on (GPa) ±45 118.09
Carbon
unidirectional Transverse ±55 211.17
Epoxy matrix Young’s 90/0 34.14
14.3 11 13.65 5.6
composite modulus ET ±35 120.49
(GPa) ±45 108.27
Longitudinal E-glass
±55 86.90
shear modulus 4.8 4.6 4.7 2.1 90/0 74.78
GLT (GPa)
±35 88.49
Poisson
0.32 0.31 0.31 0.34 ±45 80.92
coefficient νLT Kevlar49
±55 92.09
A. Total displacements results 90/0 31.46
±35 127.26
The total displacement results measured through the path ±45 111.03
(1-2) are presented in this section. In fact, as presented in S-glass
±55 83.91
Fig.5, the mechanical displacements for the carbon fibers are 90/0 70.71
important especially for ±35, ±45 and ±55. However, for 90/0
fiber configuration the blade was strengthened. Fig.4-d shows E and S glass fibers present the same behavior with little
that the Carbon is a rigid material that can support loads in difference in terms of the mechanical displacement. In fact,
tension and compression. Thus, the Carbon fiber supports Fig.5-a shows that the glass fibers have a lower displacement
more in specific fiber directions [23]. compared to the Carbon fibers and higher compared to the
Kevlar49. On the other hand, the displacement of the blade
constructed with Kevlar49 fibers is lower compared to other
materials. Fig.5-c shows that the glass fibers follow the same
behavior of kevlar49. Thus, high level of displacements
occurred for the blade with Carbon fiber. Fig.5-d, the blade
created with kevlar49 fibers behaves in the same way as the
Carbon fiber, and has less displacement compared to both
types of glass fiber. Instead of the high displacements results TABLE IV: MAXIMAL VALUES OF STRESS.
of Carbon fiber, the configuration of the fibers orientation Maximal value of
Fiber orientation Fiber material
90/0 gives the minimum displacements about 34.14 mm lower stress (MPa)
than others. ±35 73.3
±45 91.77
Carbon
B. Stress results ±55 277.9
The mechanical behavior of composite blade needs to be 90/0 120.4
±35 178.5
strongly investigated. Fortunately, it was evaluated using the
±45 167.7
achieved results in terms of stress over the skin and spar web ±55
E-glass
151.3
areas. In fact, the mechanical stresses have been assessed, as 90/0 105.5
shown in Fig.6 and table IV, the effect of the two loads ±35 60.5
converted from the wind loads. The stress results achieved ±45
Kevlar49
53.6
from the numerical simulations under ACP have been detailed ±55 121.0
in table IV, which presents the maximum values supported by 90/0 132.4
±35 96.3
each blade configuration in terms of fiber orientation and fiber
±45 100.11
materials. In addition, Fig.6 shows the distribution of stresses ±55
S-glass
149.6
over the skin and spar for the following configurations: 90/0 110.1
(Carbon fiber, ± 35), (Kevlar49 fiber, ± 35) and (Kevlar49
fiber, ± 45) which support less stresses as shown in the table VI. CONCLUSION
IV.
In this paper, good attentions have been paid to the effect of
the blade fiber’s material, which is subjected to severe wind
loads, besides to the effect of fiber’s orientation. Essentially,
the materials of the blade are investigated using a finite
element analysis under ACP code. In this context, two
parametric studies have been carried out. The total
displacements and mechanical stress have been assessed to
evaluate the strength of the multilayered composite blade
structure. As a result, it has been found that the configurations
(Carbon fiber, ± 35), (Kevlar49 fiber, ± 35) and (Kevlar49
fiber, ± 45) are the most efficient configurations in terms of
resistance to the mechanical stress. Furthermore, the
orientation configuration 90/0 support more than other
suggested configurations to flexural displacement of the
composite with approximately 34.14 mm as minimum value
recorded for the Carbon, also for E-glass and S-glass fibers
with ± 55.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors are grateful for the funding support provided
by EMISys Research Team, Engineering 3S Research Center,
Mohammadia School of Engineers at University Mohammed
V in Rabat, Morocco.
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