BLADEREPAIR. Advanced repair procedures as a competitive solution to the technical limitations of the wind turbine blade manufacturing process.

According to Wood Mackenzie’s latest 2019 report, costs associated with blade maintenance accounted for 25% of the cost of wind turbine major corrective actions (O&M). Focused on the blade, studies have been carried out to identify the root cause to explain the occurrence of premature blade failures, concluding that the main cause of these failures is the existence of manufacturing defects. It is therefore considered critical to have an advanced calculation method that allows; 1) the analysis of the possible consequences of defects detected in the factory and 2) the definition of reliable repair procedures.

BLADEREPAIR aims to define and develop new reliable repair procedures to remedy defects associated with the manufacturing process of wind turbine blades through innovative calculation methodologies for the wind industry combined with specimen or subcomponent testing.

It is intended to develop an advanced solution of the fracture mechanics based calculation method that takes into account damage progression and non-linear phenomena. Achieve an advanced defect characterization process based on available technologies. Define concise and reliable repair processes. And guarantee the correct operation of the designed and manufactured blades.

From the technical point of view, CENER contributes to the following tasks:

• Development of advanced solution of fracture mechanics-based calculation method (linear contacts, nonlinear material formulations, propagation predictions).
• Test design.
• Fabrication of specimens with pre-defined defects.
• Resin selection and characterization tests.
• Test specimen modelling.
• Definition of test campaign and analysis of results.