Scenario, Assignment Brief and Guidance:

Scenario:

You are an engineer working on a wind turbine "green energy" project for BCP City Council. Their

wind turbine blades are not lasting as long as predicted, and in-service problems do not match

predicted life from laboratory test results. You have been tasked with reviewing and evaluating a

number of possible materials for the improved manufacture of wind turbine blades, so that they last

longer and are more reliable.

Blades have failed in the past because of a build-up of electromagnetic charge, excessive heat,

corrosion, mechanical strain and failure.

Assignment Brief:/nAssignment Brief:

Activity 1:

Some wind turbine blades have cracked, failed or twisted (reduced 'angle of attack' and hence

performance) in-service in much shorter times than predicted.

Using the data from your laboratory tests, prepare and present a report that compares and

contrasts the following:

• torsion test results of four materials (two metallic & two non-metallic) against theoretical results

(you may use the theoretical data from APPENDIX 1: Material Shear Modulus Data)

• beam deflection test results of four materials (two metallic & two non-metallic) against

theoretical results (you may use the theoretical data from APPENDIX 2: Modulus of

Elasticity Material Data)

Evaluate any differences and suggest why real-world & laboratory test results for wind turbine

blades could differ from theoretical data.

NOTE:

Include evidence, photos and results of your laboratory tests in your report.

So that your audience can understand the context of your report, you will need to describe how the

structures of the different materials relate to their properties.

You will also need to refer to the types of degradation that are most common in the four materials,

and how relevant that is to the wind turbine blade application.

Use citation/references using the Harvard referencing system where relevant.

Show and explain any formulae used and calculations.