Finite Element Analysis of Different Infill Patterns for 3D Printed Tidal Turbine Blade

Glecelyn M. Galvez, Karl Andrie M. Olivar, Francis Rey G. Tolentino, Louis Angelo M. Danao () and Binoe E. Abuan
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Glecelyn M. Galvez: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
Karl Andrie M. Olivar: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
Francis Rey G. Tolentino: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
Louis Angelo M. Danao: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
Binoe E. Abuan: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-23

Abstract: The fabrication route for tidal turbine blades has been compounded with the appearance of additive manufacturing; with the use of infill patterns, improvement of mechanical strength and material reduction for 3D printed parts can be obtained. Through finite element analysis and three-point bend tests, the optimal infill lattice pattern, and the viability of the shell–infill turbine blade model as an alternative to the conventional shell-spar model was determined. Out of a selection of infills, the best infill pattern was determined as the hexagonal infill pattern oriented in-plane. A representative volume element was modeled in ANSYS Material Designer, resulting in the homogenized properties of the in-plane hexagonal lattice. After validation, the homogenized properties were applied to the tidal turbine blade. The shell–infill model was based on the volume of the final shell-spar model which had a blade deflection of 9.720% of the blade length. The difference in the deflection between the homogenized infill and the spar cross-section was 0.00125% with a maximum stress of 170.3 MPa which was within the tensile strength and flexure strength of the carbon fiber with onyx base material. Conclusively, the homogenized infill was determined as a suitable alternative to the spar cross-section. The best orientation of the infill relative to the horizontal orientation of the blade was 0 degrees; however, the lack of trend made it inconclusive whether 0 degrees was the absolute optimal infill orientation.

Keywords: finite element analysis; additive manufacturing; infill patterns; horizontal axis tidal turbine blade (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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