Repair of wind turbine blades: Review of methods and related computational mechanics problems

A short overview of main repair techniques for wind turbine blades and the related problems of computational mechanics is presented. Computational models of the leading edge erosion of wind turbine blades, injection repair and viscous flow, patch/scarf repair as well as curing and adhesive development are reviewed. Both the degradation of wind turbine blades during service (caused by surface erosion, surface cracking, delamination, fiber failure) and the repair procedures (coating, patch and scarf attachment, injection and curing of adhesives) represent the multiscale processes, controlled by geometrical., blade, patch, scarf geometries), mechanical (strength of composite, strength of adhesive, coating, stress distribution) and physical/chemical effects (curing, viscous flow, humidity, temperature and UV effects). For the further optimization of repair technology and efficiency, multi-physical, multi scale computational models should be employed. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.