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 study 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 conducted 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 (UniDirectional) 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. Comparison analysis confirmed that UD layers introduce measurable bend-twist couplings, which was not present in the original blade.