DYNAMIC INVESTIGATION OF TWIST-BEND COUPLING IN A WIND TURBINE BLADE

This paper presents some results and aspects of the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research oriented for the experimental and numerical stu-dy in static and dynamic domains on the bend-twist coupling in the full scale section of a wind turbine blade structure. The main goal of the con-ducted research is to confirm experimentally the numerical prediction of modification of the dynamic and static properties of a wind turbine blade. The bend-twist coupling was implemented by adding angled UD (UniDi-rectional) layers on the suction and pressure side of the blade. Static and dynamic tests were performed on a section of the full scale wind turbine blade provided by Vestas Wind Systems A/S. The results are presented and compared with the measurements of the original and modified blade. Com-parison analysis confirmed that UD layers introduce measurable bend-twist couplings, which was not present in the original blade. Key words: wind turbine blade, bending, torsion, composite materials 1