Composite Blade Laminate Thickness Transition Eccentricity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for modular blades with abrupt thickness changes in load paths fail to address the high stress levels and structural collapse due to pronounced eccentricities, which are not adequately managed by typical thickness transition slopes, leading to out-of-plane movements and potential structural failure.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating non-structural materials with low elastic modulus, such as foams or low modulus laminates, onto the mould face to modify the centroid alignment and increase the reaction length, thereby reducing eccentricity and out-of-plane stresses without adding structural weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If typical thickness transition slopes of 1:100 are used in modular blades with abrupt thickness changes (50-400%), then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but high eccentricity in load centroid causes out-of-plane movements and structural collapse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the slope parameter of the thickness transition from the typical 1:100 to a steeper slope (e.g., 1:10 or similar), fundamentally altering the geometric parameters to reduce the reaction length and thereby minimize the eccentricity effects in the load path
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a longitudinal slope to the thickness transition that was not present in conventional designs, creating a three-dimensional transition surface that simultaneously manages thickness change and load path alignment, reducing out-of-plane movements
2Adaptability or versatility
If the thickness of the joining area is increased to accommodate metal elements and inserts, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but eccentricity in load centroid increases causing high stress levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the thickness transition, using a steeper slope to reduce the longitudinal distance over which the thickness changes, thereby minimizing the eccentricity moment arm and reducing stress levels despite the presence of thick joining areas
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the blade into modular sections with distinct thickness zones, allowing the joining area to be thick for accommodating elements while the transition zone manages the stress through controlled geometric changes
3Reliability
If a steeper thickness transition slope is used to reduce eccentricity effects, then structural integrity is improved, but manufacturing complexity and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes specific slope parameters (e.g., 1:10 or similar steep slopes) that balance structural integrity with manufacturability, providing clear quantitative guidelines that simplify the design process while maintaining safety
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Transition of variable thicknesses of composite material laminates of a modular blade when the thickness varies by 50-400% and which smooths the centroid distribution, the centroid being represented as a function of the thickness and material of the laminate with respect to the corresponding radius of the blade. For this purpose, a non-structural material (10) is incorporated disposed on the lower part corresponding to the face of a mould (5) or the aerodynamic surface (11) is modified.