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Similitude Analysis of the Frequency Response Function for Scaled Structures

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Model Validation and Uncertainty Quantification, Volume 3

Abstract

Full-scale testing of the large structures is time consuming and expensive. Scaled-down structures expedite and facilitate the testing process of the large structures. To design a scaled-down structure, a deliberate methodology should be used to ensure the similarity between the full-scale structure and its scaled-down model. Comparison of the frequency response functions of the full-scale structure and its scaled-down model can verify the similarity between two scales. In this study, three composite I-beams with different scales (i.e. small, medium and large) are designed and manufactured. The designed composite I-beams replicate the spar caps and the shear web of a utility-scale wind turbine blade. Frequency response functions of the three beams are measured using a hammer impact test. The scaling laws of the frequency response function are derived using similitude analysis. The derived scaling laws are used to map the frequency response functions of the large and medium beams to that of the small beam. The comparison between the FRF curve of the small beam and the mapped FRF curves of the large and medium beams indicates the similarity of the laminated beams with different scales and demonstrates the effect of the scaling on shear and flexural stiffnesses.

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Acknowledgments

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Number 1230884 (Achieving a Sustainable Energy Pathway for Wind Turbine Blade Manufacturing). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. Special thanks go to Stephen Nolet from TPI Composites Incorporation to help define the composition of the specimens and the tests conducted. We also thank Andy Schoenberg from the Maine Composites Alliance – Composites Engineering Research Laboratory for fabricating the I-beam specimens.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA

    Mohamad Eydani Asl, Christopher Niezrecki, James Sherwood & Peter Avitabile

Authors
  1. Mohamad Eydani Asl
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  2. Christopher Niezrecki
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  3. James Sherwood
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  4. Peter Avitabile
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohamad Eydani Asl .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

    Robert Barthorpe

  2. Fraunhofer Institute Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany

    Roland Platz

  3. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California, USA

    Israel Lopez

  4. Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA

    Babak Moaveni

  5. University of Thessaly, Thessaly, Greece

    Costas Papadimitriou

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© 2017 The Society for Experimental Mechanics, Inc.

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Asl, M.E., Niezrecki, C., Sherwood, J., Avitabile, P. (2017). Similitude Analysis of the Frequency Response Function for Scaled Structures. In: Barthorpe, R., Platz, R., Lopez, I., Moaveni, B., Papadimitriou, C. (eds) Model Validation and Uncertainty Quantification, Volume 3. Conference Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54858-6_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54858-6_21

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-54857-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-54858-6

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