Open Access

ARTICLE

Design and Modeling of Novel Wind Turbine Structures Incorporating Nanocomposite Materials

Mohammed Yahya^1,*, Safaaldeen A. Sulyman², Joban Sahota¹, Gursingh Aikum Dhugga¹, Saiakash Shunmugavel¹
1 Mechanical Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada
2 College of Basic Education, Mosul University, Mosul, Iraq
* Corresponding Author: Mohammed Yahya. Email:

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring https://doi.org/10.32604/sdhm.2026.074828

Received 19 October 2025; Accepted 26 January 2026; Published online 26 March 2026

Abstract

The structural integrity and longevity of wind turbine blades are critical determinants of the efficiency and reliability of wind energy systems. As the primary components responsible for converting kinetic wind energy into mechanical torque and subsequently electrical power, the aerodynamic, structural, and material characteristics of rotor blades directly influence turbine performance and operational lifespan. This research addresses the limitations of conventional blade designs, often characterized by stress concentration, fatigue damage, and dynamic instability by introducing a novel diamond-lattice internal support structure aimed at improving mechanical strength, fatigue resistance, and dynamic stability. Finite element simulations performed in COMSOL Multiphysics^® were used to evaluate the proposed configuration against a traditional X-shaped design under realistic aerodynamic and gravitational loading. The results reveal that the proposed structure reduced peak stress concentrations by 11.38%, achieves a 15.39% reduction in volumetric elastic strain, and improves fatigue performance by 14.38% while significantly enhancing stiffness and buckling resistance without adding substantial mass. To assess dynamic performance, a Campbell diagram analysis was conducted, confirming that no resonance intersections occur between the excitation harmonics and the natural frequency modes within the operational speed range. This finding indicates that the blade operates safely below critical resonance thresholds and benefits from centrifugal stiffening, which further improves stability at higher rotational speeds. Moreover, the incorporation of carbon nanotube (CNT), nano-silica, and hybrid nanocomposite reinforcements into the composite matrix enhanced stiffness, vibration damping, and crack resistance, yielding superior fatigue and vibration behavior. Overall, the combined application of structural innovation and nanomaterial enhancement offers a promising pathway toward the development of lighter, stronger, and dynamically stable wind turbine blades, contributing to improved performance, reliability, and sustainability in modern renewable energy systems.

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Keywords

Wind turbine; turbine blades; aerodynamics; numerical modeling

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