| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2024 ASC Technical Conference, US-Japan Joint Symposium, D30 Meeting
|
| Symposium
|
2024 ASC Technical Conference, US-Japan Joint Symposium, D30 Meeting
|
| Presentation Title |
Effects of Repair Reinforcement on Scarf Joint Strength |
| Author(s) |
Carineh Ghafafian, Ivan Moreno, Steven Nutt |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Carineh Ghafafian |
| Abstract Scope |
The effect of fabric thickness on composite scarf repairs was investigated in a set of systematic experiments. In particular, coupon specimens with and without scarf joints were subjected to quasi-static tensile load, and the failure mechanisms and restored strength were compared. Scarf repairs are known for efficient load transfer due to flat joint angles, which decrease eccentricity in load distribution and minimize peel stresses. This approach is commonly deployed for wind turbine blade repairs, where blade structures undergo about 107 load cycles during service life. Generally accepted practices dictate that repair materials, including reinforcement, be chosen to match the parent structure. The findings in this work, however, revealed that for off-axis laminates, the strength of the repaired structure can be increased by halving the areal weight of the fabric and doubling the number of plies relative to the original structure. Adopting this strategy can benefit wind blade shells and restore structural integrity, and the simple parameters considered here can be readily implemented in on-site field repairs. The added plies mitigate damage distribution and propagation and highlight the importance of the repair materials and protocols in joint strength and extending blade service life. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Definite: Post-meeting proceedings |