Joint configuration for a segmented wind turbine rotor blade

A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine, the rotor blade assembly comprising:

• a first blade segment including a first joint end and first and second spar caps extending within an interior of the first blade segment, at least one shear web of the first blade segment extending between the first and second spar caps;
• a second blade segment including a second joint end, the second blade segment being coupled to the first blade segment such that the first and second joint ends are located at or adjacent to a joint interface defined between the first and second blade segments;
• a joint beam extending outwardly from the second joint end of the second blade segment across the joint interface such that the joint beam is received within an interior of the first blade segment at a location disposed between the pair of opposed internal structural components of the first blade segment;
• a first pre-loaded compression member compressed between the joint beam and the first spar cap of the first blade segment;
• and
• a second pre-loaded compression member separate from the first pre-loaded compression member and being compressed between the joint beam and the second spar cap of the first blade segment,
• wherein the first and second pre-loaded compression members are spaced apart from each other within the first blade segment.

A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine, the rotor blade assembly comprising:

• a first blade segment including a first joint end and a pair of opposed internal structural components extending within an interior of the first blade segment;
• a second blade segment including a second joint end, the second blade segment being coupled to the first blade segment such that the first and second joint ends are located at or adjacent to a joint interface defined between the first and second blade segments;
• a joint beam extending outwardly from the second joint end of the second blade segment across the joint interface such that the joint beam is received within an interior of the first blade segment at a location disposed between the pair of opposed internal structural components of the first blade segment;
• a first pre-loaded compression member positioned between the joint beam and a first structural component of the pair of opposed internal structural components of the first blade segment;
• and
• a second pre-loaded compression member positioned between the joint beam and a second structural component of the pair of opposed internal structural components of the first blade segment,
• wherein each of the first and second pre-loaded compression members comprises one of a leaf spring or a coil spring.