• Composites Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.54-61
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• 2012

In this study, a specific structural design procedure for 2 MW class glass/epoxy composite wind turbine system towers is newly proposed through load case study, trade-off study, optimal structural design and structural analysis. Optimal tower design is very important because its cost is about 20% of the wind turbine system's cost. In the structural design of the tower, three kinds of loads such as wind load, blades, nacelle and tower weight and blade aerodynamic drag load should be considered. Initial structural design is carried out using the netting rule and the rule of mixture. Then the structural safety and stability are confirmed using a commercial finite element code, MSC NASTRAN/PATRAN. The finally proposed tower configuration meets the tower design requirements.