Fatigue testing of a wind turbine blade
AssigneeVestas Wind Systems A/S
InventorsWilliam David Richards, Stuart Guy, Malcolm Barnsley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The application relates to an apparatus (100) for fatigue testing a wind turbine blade, and to a system and method using such an apparatus (100). The apparatus (100) comprises a base (110) for supporting a first end (12) of the wind turbine blade (10), and an edgewise actuator assembly (120). The edgewise actuator assembly (120) includes a ground-supported edgewise actuator (130) and a flexible cable assembly (140) for connecting the edgewise actuator (130) to the blade (10). The edgewise actuator (130) and the flexible cable assembly (140) are adapted to cyclically deflect the blade (10) relative to the base in the edgewise direction by repeatedly pulling the blade (10) in a substantially horizontal direction.
Claims20
An apparatus for fatigue testing a wind turbine blade, the apparatus comprising:
- a base for supporting a first end of the wind turbine blade such that a longitudinal axis and an edgewise direction of the blade are both substantially horizontal;
- and
- an edgewise actuator assembly comprising a ground supported edgewise actuator and a flexible cable assembly for connecting the edgewise actuator to the blade,
- wherein the edgewise actuator and the flexible cable assembly are adapted to cyclically deflect the blade relative to the base in the edgewise direction by repeatedly pulling the blade in a substantially horizontal direction.
A method of fatigue testing a wind turbine blade, the method comprising the steps of:
- supporting a first end of a wind turbine blade in a base such that a longitudinal axis and an edgewise direction of the blade are both substantially horizontal;
- connecting the blade to a ground supported edgewise actuator using a flexible cable assembly;
- and
- cyclically deflecting the blade relative to the base in the edgewise direction by generating a cyclical deflection force with the edgewise actuator and repeatedly pulling the blade in a substantially horizontal direction with the flexible cable assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.