Structural Testing of the Blade Reliability Collaborative Effect of Defect Wind Turbine Blades

Two 8.3 m wind turbine blades intentionally constructed with manufacturing flaws were tested to failure at NREL's NWTC. Two blades were tested, one blade was manufactured with a fiberglass spar cap and the second spade was manufactured with a carbon fiber spar cap. Test loading primarily consisted of fatigue loading the blades, with one quasi-static ultimate load case applied to the carbon fiber primarily consisted of flap fatigue loading of the blades, with one quasi-static ultimate load case applied to the carbon fiber spar cap blade. Results of the test program were intended to provide the full-scale test data needed for validation of model and coupon test results of the effect of defects in wind turbine blade composite materials. Testing was part of the Blade Reliability Collaborative (BRC) led by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL).