Mechanisms and computational analysis of leading edge erosion of wind turbine blades

Abstract

Microstructural characterization and computational simulations are combined to study the micromechanisms of leading edge erosion of two different coating systems. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray tomography investigations were performed and micromechanical models of the two coatings were developed which take their micro- and nanoscale structures into account. The computational unit cell models are compared to the microscopy studies and both show that the heterogeneities, particles and voids in the protective coatings have critical effect on the crack initiation in the coatings under multiple liquid impact.