Blades are the most crucial parts in a wind turbine. The aerodynamic characteristics of a wind turbine’s blade determine its power performance. Their structural strength determines its life expectancy. Wind turbine blades are exposed to stochastic aerodynamic loading. The complexity of the load carrying capabilities of composite materials adds further to the problems faced by a wind turbine blade designer. Full scale testing of a wind turbine blade prototype is critical for the successful development of wind turbine blade production line.

The Blade Testing Facility of The Laboratory for Wind Turbine Testing of CRES can accommodate blades up to 20m long. Through the use of computer-controlled hydraulic actuators the following full-scale tests are performed:

• MODAL
• STATIC
• FATIGUE

Strains, deflections, inclinations and accelerations exhibited by the blade, imposed loading and environmental conditions are monitored during each testing to define blade’s performance. The following equipment  is available:

• Hydraulic power supply of 360 l/min capacity at 210bar
• 4 Hydraulic Cylinders of various capacities (±25kN-500mm, ±100kN-1500mm) for static and dynamic loading
• 2 Hydraulic Cylinders of 100kN, 2000mm for static loading
• 64 channels acquisition system
• Force, displacement, strain, inclination, acceleration, temperature & humidity sensors and amplifiers
• 4 channel Optical Fibre system
• 10 channel Acoustic Emission system
• Ultrasonic thickness and flaw detection system for composite material structures
• Vibration Exciter

3D digitiser for quality control of the blade’s geometry