R. Suhail et al, "Analysis and Design of a Pedestrian Bridge with Decommissioned FRP Windblades and Concrete"

Abstract

The rapid increase in the wind energy sector has brought forward a challenging problem of disposing off a huge quantity of non-biodegradable, thermosetting fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials used in wind turbine blades. Most of the existing solutions are either not sustainable or not economical. This study focuses on re-use options. In this paper a design option for re-using decommissioned wind turbine blades in pedestrian bridges is presented. To demonstrate the concept, an 8.5 m long pedestrian bridge is designed using parts taken from two A29 (modified version of Vestas V27) windblades. A preliminary code-based structural analysis is carried out to assess practicality of the proposed design and to check strength and serviceability requirements given in the prescribed codes. The results show that proposed design full-fills the strength criteria and serviceability requirements recommended in the Eurocodes. The maximum strength utilisation of the blade components is found about 61% and deflection is limited to span/303.

Citation

Raj Suhail, Jian-Fei Chen, Russell Gentry, Benjamin Taristro-Hart, Yicong Xue and Lawrence C. Bank, “Analysis and Design of a Pedestrian Bridge with Decommissioned FRP Windblades and Concrete” proceedings of FRPRCS14, Belfast, UK, June 4-7, 2019, paper no. 176.