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A study was conducted to investigate the structural response of a composite constructed small wind turbine blade subjected to gyroscopic load using finite element analysis. An Aerogenesis 5 kW small wind turbine blade was used as a case study. As part of this study, a high-fidelity finite element model of the 2.5 m long composite blade was built, and the accuracy of its predictions validated against experimental data. The blade model was loaded using a comprehensive method for applying gyroscopic load to finite element models of small-scale blades. The predicted results show gyroscopic loading causes the blade to deflect in both the flap-wise and lead-lag directions and induce reasonably high strains in the composite blade structure. The direction of the gyroscopic loading is a function of the direction of turbine yaw as well as the blade position as it rotates, therefore gyroscopic loading can both exacerbate and reduce the effects of aerodynamic loading acting on the blade.

Abstract. This paper presents a method to optimise the material layout of a fibreglass-reinforced composite constructed small wind turbine blade. The method was developed with the intent of reducing blade mass without compromising the blade's structural performance or longevity. The bi-directional evolutionary layout optimisation method utilises finite element analysis to redesign the composite lay of the blade structure based on a strain energy criterion. Details of the procedure of this method are documented in the paper. The bi-directional evolutionary optimisation technique was applied to the existing structure of a 2.5 m composite blade from an Aerogenesis 5 kW wind turbine. The optimisation technique was able to reduce the current mass of the blade by 15% without any increase in blade deflection with strains kept below a fatigue endurance limit when subject to aerodynamic and centrifugal loading conditions at design conditions. The initial results from this study are promising and could help lower manufacturing costs of small wind turbine blades.

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