Digital event series „Leibniz-IWT Live“

Abstract:

In wind turbines, rotor blade bearings connect the individual rotor blades to the hub. In this presentation, we will present the latest findings from the BALTIC joint project, in which we are investigating the complex interactions between fatigue, damage, and wear in these blade bearings. We analyze real blade bearings that have been used in the field and thus investigate the mechanisms that can lead to the formation of cracks. To do this, we use fatigue tests, fracture mechanics investigations, and residual stress measurements. In addition, we simulate crack propagation under cyclic loads using the Extended Finite Element Method (XFEM). Our goal is to reduce the occurrence of cracks through an in-depth understanding of the interactions between fatigue, damage, and wear, thereby sustainably increasing the reliability of wind turbines.