Delamination Analysis in Composite Root of a Carbon-Layer Reinforced Wind Turbine Blade

The inconsistencies accompanied with material properties tipically cause the rise of delamination risk in composites made of different types of glass and crabon fibers. In this study, the delamination of a composite beam reinforced with a carbon layer under bending load is investigated. To this end, a small piece of a wind turbine blade root in the form of a heterogeneous laminated plate is simulated and analyzed. The methodology consists of two parallel approaches, including the experimental measurements and computer simulations. In the experimental program, the delamination of different specimens has been examined by three-point bending (3PB) tests. The diagrams of load versus load line displacement are recorded. In computer simulation, the geometry of composite laminate is re-modeled and stress analysis is performed. The results confirm that delamination loads obtained from the simulations are reliable and in good agreement with those obtained from the experimental procedures. The results of experimental measurements and computational simulations are utilized to predict the delamination failure and to optimize the lay-up sequence of the reinforced structure.

Keywords:

Delamination , Laminated composites , Abaqus analysis , Three-point bending test , Cohesive zone model