DEVELOPMENT OF COMPOSITES WITH COMPLEX ARCHITECTURE FOR WIND TURBINE BLADES

摘要

3D angle-interlock braided composite materials are used in structural parts in order to improve material properties while potentially automating the manufacturing of preforms. They also help reduce the delamination effects, which are sometimes encountered when using laminated composite materials. Braiding is a technology that can be used in many complex extruded profiles as found in the transportation and energy sectors. The work presented here is intended to be exploited for the setup of 10-50kW vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) blades. In order to make structural computations on >10-meter blades, it is necessary to use the homogenisation principle to obtain material properties at a reasonable cost. The use of a Representative Volume Element (RVE) becomes essential not to have to represent the textile in detail, and to reduce the computation time. However, the modelling of a multi-layered 3D braided textile is not immediate, which complicates the homogenisation process. For such a study, meshes known as conventional or conformal are prohibited, and the use of a non-conformal mesh is necessary. This study focuses on the modelling of a 3D angle-interlock braided composite material using FILAVA enhanced mineral fibres, based on volcanic rock and mineral additives. It explores results of the mechanical properties of the braids, computed thanks to a homogenisation chain, and shows comparison with experimental tests.