A Study on the Effect of External Loading for the Composite Material Layup of a Large Wind Turbine Blade Based on a Pattern Search Algorithm

As the trend towards larger wind turbines continues, the increasing length of wind turbine blades imposes higher demands on their structural properties. Long flexible wind turbine blades at the hundred-meter scale now typically employ composite materials. In recent engineering practice, wind turbine blade accidents occur frequently. As a result, the method for optimizing composite material layup of large wind turbine blade is attracting attention from both researchers and engineers. In the current research, thin-walled beam structural theory combined with pattern search algorithms are utilized to optimize the composite layup of large wind turbine blade structures under different loading cases. Utilizing the proposed optimization algorithm, the blade structure is capable of reducing weight while satisfying structural strength requirements. Based on the proposed optimization method, the impact of external loading on the structural optimization results are compared. The trailing edge section on the transition region is critical for wind turbine blade structural design. Increasing the thickness of the layup on spar caps is a feasible way to resist the flapwise loading. These findings provide valuable guidance for the structural design optimization of ultra-long flexible blades in large wind turbines and have positive significance for the safety and economy of wind farm operation, offering a more scientific, efficient, and practical approach to their design.