The Knowledge Center: Wind Turbine Materials and Constructions

Abstract

For nearly 20 years, the Wind Turbine Materials and Constructions (WMC) group at Delft University of Technology has been carrying out research on the materials, components and structures for wind turbines. The group has worked in close cooperation with the Energy Research Center of the Netherlands (ECN). In the various research projects, experimental and numerical work is combined. For the experimental work, the group has a laboratory of 44×22 meters. The laboratory is equipped with a large hydraulic system including actuators in the range from 10 to 10,000 kN. Standard test rigs for material and component testing are available, but for most tests, dedicated test rigs are assembled from standard components. Most of the software for the control, measurement and analysis is developed in house. Full-scale tests of blades, such as the one shown in Fig. 1, are limited to blade lengths of 36 meters in the current facility. For realistic results, multi-axial loading on the blades is applied. The WMC group has tested most blades manufactured in the Netherlands, and tests are also carried out for other European manufacturers.