On the failure behavior of a GFRP composite cylinder under Brazier crushing force-An experimental and computational study

The induced ovalization or out-of-plane deformation in the circular and transition airfoils of modern MegaWatt (MW) size wind turbine rotor blades is caused by the combined effect of the applied far-field bending loads and the local structural curvature. In general, the phenomenon of the ovalization or out-of-plane deformation of the circular elastic cross sections under the applied bending load or the internal/external pressure is termed the Brazier effect [1 2]. Considering the poor mechanical performance in the out-of-plane direction of the typically used laminated glass composites for wind turbine rotor blade construction, the current research work aims to develop a thoroughly validated computational methodology to understand the ovalization (out-of-plane deformation) induced failure behavior in circular cross-sections located between the root and transition region of a rotor blade, using a substructure level testing and modeling under representative load conditions. To this end, detailed manufacturing, testing, and a computational modeling campaign is devised and executed at different length scales starting from coupon to cylinder (substructure) level. The required elastic, strength, and fracture properties for the cylinder progressive damage analysis are evaluated using coupon-level experiments following various ASTM standards.The developed numerical methodology is thoroughly validated using the substructure level experimental load-displacement curves, strain, and damage profiles. Detailed experimental and numerical studies reveal that the induced ovalization leads to a non-linear relation between the applied crushing force and the local radius of curvature until the unstable collapse of the cylinder. Based on the thorough local stress and damage analysis, it is evident that along with the dominant interlaminar shear stress (ILSS), the presence of the interlaminar tensile (ILT) stress component is the key to the delamination induced collapse of the cylinder.