Service life prediction of windmill blade 1

[rodneybennet]

Dear All:

We have been asked to produce a service life prediction model for a windmill blade made from glass reinforced polyester and vinyl ester materials. In the simulation we will assume that the windmill is being operated on sea / near to the coast of The Netherlands. We will include the mechanical loads, the water penetration into the glass fibre laminate, temperature variations (spikings), possible corrosive/ UV mechanism etc. (our mechanical-chemical-diffusion simulation approach by Composite Agency).

However before commencing, it would be interesting to know if someone has an idea of the current life time expectation of windmill blades and/or a scientific basis (literature source, papers), since it is always useful to have some sort of reference.

Further ideas or comments are also welcome!

Thanks,

More info on:

http://www.composite-agency.cn

 

[SWComposites]

Sandia Natl Labs has published a number of papers on windmill blades; see

http://www.sandia.gov/wind/topical.htm