Numerical and Experimental Study of Nanoparticle Reinforcement in Tapered GFRP Laminates: An Outlook for Wind Turbine Blades

Date

2025-3-4

Author

Şener, Özgün

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This thesis investigates the influence of nanoparticle reinforcement on the structural integrity of tapered laminates. These laminates are representative of drop-off regions commonly found in structural components such as wind turbine blades. Wind blades, constructed from fiber-reinforced plastics (FRPs), are susceptible to stress concentrations at ply drop-off stations, which can lead to failure. This study selectively introduces nanoparticles to these critical areas to enhance the interfacial properties between fibers and the matrix, thereby improving the overall performance of FRPs. Despite extensive research on the effects of nanoparticles and tapered composite laminates, a significant gap exists regarding their combined impact on structural performance. To address this, experiments were conducted on nanoreinforced epoxy systems, evaluating different nanoparticle types, contents, and mixing conditions. Optimal nanoparticle integration was identified, resulting in the production and testing of nanoreinforced glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites. The findings revealed significant improvements in interlaminar properties while maintaining intralaminar integrity. Tapered GFRP laminates were also assessed, demonstrating that nanoreinforcement increased delamination loads and resulted in more consistentvi delamination initiation. Additionally, nanoreinforcement effectively delayed the onset of delamination in tapered laminates while preserving ultimate load capacity. To further substantiate these findings, virtual testing was performed using a developed Progressive Failure Analysis tool that incorporates Enhanced Schapery Theory and Crack Band Theory. This tool, validated through open-hole tension tests, facilitated the analysis of complex failure mechanisms in tapered composites, with simulations yielding results that matched the experimental data, confirming the efficacy of the proposed approach.

Subject Keywords

Nanocomposites, Tapered Laminates, Carbon Nanotubes, Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastics (GFRP), Failure Analysis

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/114094

Collections

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis