This paper examines the importance of load phase angle variations on fatigue damage and evaluates the potential effects of varying the load phase angle during dual-axis constant amplitude fatigue testing. The scope of this paper is limited to results from simulated wind and dynamic loads. The operating loads on a generic three bladed up-wind 1.5 MW wind turbine blade were analyzed over a range of operating conditions, and an aggregate probability distribution for the actual phase angles between the peak in-plane (lead-lag) and peak out-of-plane (flap) loads was determined. Using a finite element model (FEM) of the 1.5 MW blade and Miner’s Rule [Miner, A., 1945, “Cumulative Damage in Fatigue,” Trans. ASME, 67], the accumulated theoretical fatigue damage (based on axial strains) resulting from a fatigue test with variable phase angles using the aggregate distribution was compared to the damage resulting from a fatigue test with a constant phase angle. The FEM nodal damage distribution at specific blade cross sections were compared for the constant and variable phase angle cases. Single-node stress concentrations were distributed arbitrarily around one cross section to simulate material defects in a blade undergoing testing. Results show that the variable phase angle case results in higher damage on the critical nodes. In addition, the probability of discovering a material defect during a test was substantially increased when variable phase loading was used. The effect of phase angle sequence on the damage accumulation was also considered. For this analysis, the finite element results were processed using a nonlinear damage accumulation model. Results show that the sequence of the phase angle can have a large effect on the fatigue damage, and multiple, shorter length sequences produce higher damage than a single, long term sequence.
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November 2004
Technical Papers
The Effect of Load Phase Angle on Wind Turbine Blade Fatigue Damage
Walt D. Musial
Walt D. Musial
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Darris L. White
Walt D. Musial
Contributed by the Solar Energy Division of the THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS for publication in the ASME JOURNAL OF SOLAR ENERGY ENGINEERING. Manuscript received by the ASME Solar Division June 20, 2004; final revision June 22, 2004. Associate Editor: D. Berg.
J. Sol. Energy Eng. Nov 2004, 126(4): 1050-1059 (10 pages)
Published Online: November 18, 2004
Article history
Received:
June 20, 2004
Revised:
June 22, 2004
Online:
November 18, 2004
Citation
White, D. L., and Musial, W. D. (November 18, 2004). "The Effect of Load Phase Angle on Wind Turbine Blade Fatigue Damage ." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. November 2004; 126(4): 1050–1059. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1800533
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