Date of Award
12-8-2011
Access Type
Thesis - Open Access
Degree Name
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Department
Mechanical Engineering
Committee Chair
Darris White
First Committee Member
Charles F. Reinholtz
Abstract
Full scale blade testing provides blade manufacturers with quantitative data regarding their blade design, manufacturing processes and durability. Structural fatigue tests are designed to assess the structural health of the turbine blade as well as simulate a lifespan worth of damage in a laboratory environment. These tests also provide a further understanding of the dynamics involved in modern turbine blades. Blade tests are typically conducted in one of the following manners: a dual-axis forced displacement, single axis or dual axis resonant configurations. Historically, fatigue testing has been performed by utilizing forced displacement systems. These systems do not allow for the load phase angle to be controlled, which leads to inaccurate loading distributions, when compared to actual field gathered data. The PhLEX (Phase Locked Excitation System) testing method outlined herein utilizes resonant excitation system in order to reduce energy requirements, decrease test duration and improve overall loading distributed.
Scholarly Commons Citation
Gowharji, Waleed Fathi, "The Development of a Phase Locked Excitation Testing Method for Full‐Scale Wind Turbine Blades" (2011). Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses. 75.
https://commons.erau.edu/edt/75
