Micro - Structure Characterization of Composite Wind Turbine Blade Following Structural Testing

This paper presents the results of research of the microstructure of the composite blade W55RBVS for the wind turbine of up to 6kW power after structural testing up to failure. The first part of the testing consists of the static testing of the structure up to the moment of the blade failure. The aim of the first part of the test was to define rigidity of the blade W55RBVS, to determine the maximum force which leads to faliure and the relative span of the blade failure. Blade testing i s performed in the Aerotechnics Laboratory of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Belgrade University. The second part of the testing consists of comparing the critically loaded part with sub-critically loaded part. This test was carried out by atomic force microscopy (Eng. Atomic Force Microscopy-AFM). All the results and analysis are presented in this paper. The test result will be used to redesign the blades. Index Term— Structural Testing, Small Wind Turbine, Composite Blade, Blade Testing, Microstructure, Atomic Force Microscopy.