Design And Analysis of Carbon Filler Reinforced Composite Small Wind Turbine Blades

Year : 2026 | Volume : 14 | Issue : 01 | Page : 79 89
    By

    Cheruku Srinivas Rao,

  • B. Nageswara Rao,

  • Subhash Kamal,

  • Abrha Gebregergs Tesfay,

  1. Researcher, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KL University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India
  2. Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, KL University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India
  3. Dean and Faculty, Department of Engineering and Technology, KBN University, Kalaburagi, Karnataka, India
  4. Associate Professor, Department of Engineering, Ethiopian Institute of Technology, Mekelle University, Mekelle, , Ethiopia

Abstract

Although wind turbines have great potential for capturing wind energy, their blades suffer from unstable aerodynamic loads as a result of operating for extended time in challenging conditions. Both structural and aerodynamic performance are negatively impacted by these loads. The effectiveness of the wind turbine and the use of wind energy are significantly impacted by the choice airfoil. Commonly used airfoils include NACA 4412, NACA 23012, and SG6043. The lift and drag characteristics of an airfoil blade or wing are primarily influenced by its geometric shape, along with the angle of attack. XFOIL program is used to compare the lift coefficient, drag coefficient and lift to drag ratio for NACA4412, NACA 23012 and SG6043 airfoils at Reynolds numbers 1.0 × 10⁵ and 5.0 × 10⁵. Results like the drag, lift coefficients, lift to drag ratio vary with the Reynolds number and angle of attack which show that SG6043 airfoils have better average performance criteria with higher lift to drag ratio. A CAD model of the blade is designed using SolidWorks software and SG6043 airfoils. A polymer composite made of carbon filler epoxy and jute fiber wind turbine blade with a 1 MW power generating capability is designed and developed. The mechanical test revealed that the composite exhibits good tensile strength (average value of 932 MPa). The average strength of impact recorded for the composite was 152 kJ/m². Experimentally determined density was 1420 kg/m³ and shows that blades are light enough to be easily set in motion by the wind.

Keywords: Airfoil, angle of attack, composite blades, density, drag coefficient, impact, lift coefficient, tensile strength, Xfoil

[This article belongs to Journal of Polymer & Composites ]

How to cite this article:
Cheruku Srinivas Rao, B. Nageswara Rao, Subhash Kamal, Abrha Gebregergs Tesfay. Design And Analysis of Carbon Filler Reinforced Composite Small Wind Turbine Blades. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(01):79-89.
How to cite this URL:
Cheruku Srinivas Rao, B. Nageswara Rao, Subhash Kamal, Abrha Gebregergs Tesfay. Design And Analysis of Carbon Filler Reinforced Composite Small Wind Turbine Blades. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(01):79-89. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2026/view=236574


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Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 14
Issue 01
Received 21/11/2025
Accepted 29/12/2025
Published 05/01/2026
Publication Time 45 Days
58

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