Wind turbine blade testing system using base excitation
US8677827B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 12, 2008 |
| Grant date | Mar 25, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 17, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF05B2260/83
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus (500) for fatigue testing elongate test articles (404) including wind turbine blades through forced or resonant excitation of the base (406) of the test articles (404). The apparatus (500) includes a testing platform or foundation (402). A blade support (410) is provided for retaining or supporting a base (406) of an elongate test article (404), and the blade support (410) is pivotally mounted on the testing platform (402) with at least two degrees of freedom of motion relative to the testing platform (402). An excitation input assembly (540) is interconnected with the blade support (410) and includes first and second actuators (444, 446, 541) that act to concurrently apply forces or loads to the blade support (410). The actuator forces are cyclically applied in first and second transverse directions. The test article (404) responds to shaking of its base (406) by oscillating in two, transverse directions (505, 507).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.