System and method for passive load attenuation in a wind turbine

A wind turbine blade, comprising:

• a skin having a closed airfoil shape;
• a beam disposed across the closed airfoil shape and oriented in a lengthwise direction along the length of the wind turbine blade, wherein the beam is configured to bear a shear load;
• and
• first and second side structures disposed on opposite sides of the beam, wherein the beam and the first and second side structures are oriented unsymmetrical relative to one another to provide twisting of the closed airfoil shape in response to bending of the wind turbine blade.

A wind turbine, comprising:

• a rotor comprising a plurality of blades mounted atop a tower, each of the plurality of blades further comprising:
• a skin having a closed airfoil shape, an outer surface, an inner surface, and opposite sides along the length of the blade ;
• and
• an internal support structure disposed within the closed airfoil shape, comprising:
• at least one shear load bearing member that is disposed across the opposite sides and that is oriented lengthwise along the length of the blade;
• and
• a plurality of bending load bearing members disposed along the inner surface in a lengthwise direction along the length of the blade, wherein the internal support structure is configured to position a shear center and a center of aerodynamic pressure loading at different locations to one another.