Germanischer Lloyd affirms IABG’s rotor blade testing method

On occasion of the WindEnergy expo, held in Hamburg from 27 to 30 September, IABG will showcase its accelerated fatigue testing method on rotor blades to a wider specialist audience for the first time.

Previously, IABG had submitted their patented testing method for verification to Germanischer Lloyd (DNV GL), an internationally recognized expert company in the field of engineering services certification. DNV GL affirmed the method’s suitability for dynamic acceptance tests of rotor blades on basis of the documentation provided.

In the certification process for wind turbines, fatigue strength of rotor blades is usually verified in endurance testing over several million load cycles. When applying conventional testing methods, the test frequency is limited by the test item’s natural initial bending frequency. In addition to that, the blade’s deflection curve occurring during resonance testing often deviates from the deflection curve from aerodynamic loads in real operation. These factors adversely affect test time and test quality.

IABG’s innovative testing method avoids these impediments. It allows for an improved simulation of the deflection curve and setting medium-load parameters during testing, while increasing the test frequency at the same time.

With its experience in wind turbine rotor blade testing, IABG supports leading wind turbine manufacturers and their suppliers in methods development and damage analysis, as well as in the field of computational and experimental product verification.