Progressive Failure Analysis for 5MW-Class Wind Turbine Composite Blades with Debonding Damage based on CZM Method

Composite wind turbine blades may experience interlaminar damage, including adhesive failure, cracking, and interlaminar fracture failure, from manufacturing or external fatigue load. Among these, the adhesive failure of adhesive joints is critical. Therefore, it is important to identify the failure mechanism in the adhesive joints between the spar cap–shear web and trailing edge of composite blades. We calculated fracture toughness through Mode I, Mode II, and Mixed-mode tests for quantitative analysis of adhesive joints. Then, to select a modeling method for realizing the damage generated in the blade, the method was verified from the specimen level. A damage model was constructed, considering contact conditions of the spar cap–shear web and trailing edge for an NREL 5MW wind turbine blade. Finally, a damage model based on cohesive zone modeling was used to analyze the progressive failure behavior of debonding at adhesive joints according to the external force applied to the blade.