On structural optimization of composite shell structures using a discrete constitutive parametrization

In this article a novel method for structural optimization of laminated composite shell structures such as wind turbine blades is presented. The outer shape of a wind turbine blade is typically determined by aerodynamic considerations and therefore not subject to change. Furthermore, the thicknesses...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inWind energy (Chichester, England) Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 109 - 124
Main Authors Lund, Erik, Stegmann, Jan
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.01.2005
Subjects
Online AccessGet full text
ISSN1095-4244
1099-1824
DOI10.1002/we.132

Cover

More Information
Summary:In this article a novel method for structural optimization of laminated composite shell structures such as wind turbine blades is presented. The outer shape of a wind turbine blade is typically determined by aerodynamic considerations and therefore not subject to change. Furthermore, the thicknesses of the shell structures are also considered fixed. The design objective is chosen to be a global quantity such as maximum stiffness or lowest eigenfrequency with a constraint on the total mass, such that the cost of material can be considered. The design optimization method is based on ideas from multiphase topology optimization where the material stiffness (or density) is computed as a weighted sum of candidate materials, and the method is easy to implement in existing finite element codes. The potential of the method to solve the combinatorial problem of proper choice of material, stacking sequence and fibre orientation simultaneously for maximum stiffness or lowest eigenfrequency design is illustrated on both small test examples and a real‐life main spar from a wind turbine blade. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bibliography:ark:/67375/WNG-JT2V3PLD-9
istex:1553B3746D7ECE63D1F2D5A1CEB586CAC667F445
ArticleID:WE132
ISSN:1095-4244
1099-1824
DOI:10.1002/we.132