Fatigue life investigation of composite rotor blades on the wind turbine in complex terrain

Abstract

In order to survey the structural characteristics of composite rotor blades on the wind turbine operated in mountainous complex terrain, on site wind data were measured and analyzed for one year. Measured gust and turbulence were compared with two existing gust models, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) gust model and mean gust shape model. Furthermore, mechanical load measurement and comparison were carried out corresponding to the root of rotor blades. Mainly, the fatigue safeties for the rotor blade were revaluated with the aid of finite element simulation due to highly increased gust and turbulence intensity.