Regarding the Wind turbine blade structure optimization

[orchidworld]

Dear all,

PS: pressure side
SS: suction side

Wind turbine blade section is consist of PS shell(Sandwich), PS/SS-Spar caps(UD), SS Shell(Sandwich), Shearwebs   

if we apply hypersizer to optimize blade struction, whether can we treat all sub-structures(shell, spar cap, shear web) as panels? other plan: shell as panel, Spar cap and Shearweb as I beam. Could everyone give me some advice, thanks!!

[James]

If you have a FEM that has shell elements, I would suggest using the following panel concepts.

Foam (Balsa) Sandwich - Pressure shells and shear webs
Three Stack Unstiffened - Spar Cap. The middle stack will be UD core material.

The I beam approach may work for preliminary design, if you want to get an understanding of stiffness requirements and deflections.