1. Supplemental Learning Module ME 305 Mechanics of Materials
COHERENT APPLICATION THREADS
CATs
Wind Turbines
Supplemental Learning Module
ME 305 Mechanics of Materials
Blade bending and structural design
Don Wroblewski
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Associate Chair, Aerospace Engineering Undergraduate Program

2. Wind Turbine Blade Loading Primary load is bending load due to lift
Torsion V
(Wind speed)
Torque Forces
Thrust forces y
Bending Moment Diagram Mx z x
Rotation

3. Wind Turbine Blade Structural Design
I-Beam
Flange: bending load
Shear web: shear load
Wind Turbine Blade with Spar
Spar Caps: bending load
Spar Web: shear load
Skin or shell: Torsion and buckling
Wind Turbine Blade with Box Spar
Box spar provides increased torsional support

4. WIND TURBINE BLADE BEAM ANALYSIS
BENDING STRESS y
Compression
Tension
yMAX x M z