Evaluation of urethane for feasibility of use in wind turbine blade design

• Main Authors: Lieblein, S., Ross, R.S., Fertis, D.G.
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: 17 WIND ENERGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; TURBINE BLADES; DESTRUCTIVE TESTING; URETHANE; CREEP; FATIGUE; TENSILE PROPERTIES; WIND TURBINES; STRESSES; CARBAMATES; CARBONIC ACID DERIVATIVES; CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS; MATERIALS TESTING; MECHANICAL PROPERTIES; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS; TESTING; Psi; Carbonic acid
• Online Access: http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6169720; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6169720; https://doi.org/10.2172/6169720

A preliminary evaluation was conducted of the use of cast urethane as a possible material for low-cost blades for wind turbines. Specimen test data are presented for ultimate tensile strength, elastic modulus, flexural strain, creep, and fatigue properties of a number of urethane formulations. Data are also included for a large-scale urethane blade section composed of cast symmetrical half-profiles tested as a cantilever beam. Based on these results, an analysis was conducted of a full-scale blade design of cast urethane that meets the design specifications of the rotor blades for the NASA/DOE experimental 100-kW MOD-0 wind turbine. Because of the low value of elastic modulus for urethane (around 457,000 psi), the design loads would have to be carried by metal reinforcement. Considerations for further evaluation are noted.