Review of morphing concepts and materials for wind turbine blade applications

TLDR

Wind turbine blades are increasing in size, creating a need for new load‑control methods, and shape morphing has been shown to reduce blade loads, yet achieving compliant actuation while preserving structural stiffness remains a key challenge. This review compiles the most relevant concepts for morphing structures and materials that enable compliant shape adaptation in wind turbine blades. The review focuses on morphing structures and materials designed to provide compliant shape adaptation for wind turbine blades.

Abstract

ABSTRACT With increasing size of wind turbines, new approaches to load control are required to reduce the stresses in blades. Experimental and numerical studies in the fields of helicopter and wind turbine blade research have shown the potential of shape morphing in reducing blade loads. However, because of the large size of modern wind turbine blades, more similarities can be found with wing morphing research than with helicopter blades. Morphing technologies are currently receiving significant interest from the wind turbine community because of their potential high aerodynamic efficiency, simple construction and low weight. However, for actuator forces to be kept low, a compliant structure is needed. This is in apparent contradiction to the requirement for the blade to be load carrying and stiff. This highlights the key challenge for morphing structures in replacing the stiff and strong design of current blades with more compliant structures. Although not comprehensive, this review gives a concise list of the most relevant concepts for morphing structures and materials that achieve compliant shape adaptation for wind turbine blades.Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.