A Comparative Study Between Epoxy S-Glass UD And Epoxy Carbon UD For Their Use As Manufacturing Materials For Wind Turbine Blades

Abstract

The majority of failure cases may occur because of the wrong selection of inappropriate material in the manufacture of wind turbine blades. Composites are used to increase reliability and reduce wind turbine manufacturing costs. Therefore, this research focuses on comparing the use of Epoxy S-Glass UD and Epoxy Carbon UD as manufacturing materials for wind turbine blades using 3D finite element analysis; to find out which of these materials have the best performance for its use as a manufacturing material for wind turbine blades. The distribution of Von Mises stresses in wind turbine blade models was investigated using Epoxy S-Glass UD and Epoxy Carbon UD under the wind loads that affect the blade of the turbine. The results showed that the value of the maximum stresses in the epoxy glass model was 3.495 × 107 Pa, while this value was in the epoxy carbon model 4.0494 × 107 Pa. As for the value of the minimum stresses, it was in the epoxy glass model 7431.8 Pa, while the value in another material model 17323 Pa. Therefore, it is not recommended to use Epoxy Carbon UD as a manufacturing material for wind turbine blades, but it is recommended to use Epoxy S-Glass UD, which reduces induced stresses and thus to prolong its lifespan.