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2023
Book Article
Titel
Rotor Blade Structure
Abstract
The rotor blade is the key component of a wind turbine generator (WTG) and converts the energy of the wind into a mechanically useful form of energy. It represents a significant cost factor in the overall context of the turbine and at the same time has an enormous impact on the yield of the turbine. This chapter deals first with the normative requirements for the development and the verification of the serviceability and operational reliability of rotor blade structures. It then considers the loads acting on the rotor blade and the properties of the materials used. Furthermore, it addresses structural models for the analysis of blades and moreover discusses the design criteria for the topology and conventional manufacturing processes as well as deviations which occur. In addition, it considers the costs as part of the design process and their impact on the form of the blade structure, since the minimisation of the Levelised Cost of Energy is the main optimisation target when designing WTGs. Finally, it discusses blade materials from a sustainable development point of view. The chapter aims to provide a well-founded overview of a range of topics which are of relevance for the engineer working with the blade.