IEC 61400-23:2014

Wind turbines - Part 23: Full-scale structural testing of rotor blades

IEC 61400-23:2014 defines the requirements for full-scale structural testing of wind turbine blades and for the interpretation and evaluation of achieved test results. The standard focuses on aspects of testing related to an evaluation of the integrity of the blade, for use by manufacturers and third party investigators. The following tests are considered in this standard:
- static load tests;
- fatigue tests;
- static load tests after fatigue tests;
- tests determining other blade properties. The purpose of the tests is to confirm to an acceptable level of probability that the whole population of a blade type fulfils the design assumptions.

Eoliennes - Partie 23: Essais en vraie grandeur des structures des pales de rotor

l'IEC 61400-23:2014 définit les exigences concernant les essais en vraie grandeur des structures des pales d'éolienne, ainsi que l'interprétation et l'évaluation des résultats d'essai obtenus. La norme cible les aspects des essais liés à une évaluation de l'intégrité des pales, et s'adresse aux fabricants et aux chercheurs tiers. La présente norme prend en considération les essais suivants:
- essais de charge statique;
- essais de fatigue;
- essais de charge statique après essais de fatigue;
- essais déterminant d'autres propriétés des pales.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 07-Apr-2014
• ICS: 01 - GENERALITIES. TERMINOLOGY. STANDARDIZATION. DOCUMENTATION
• ICS: 27.180 - Wind turbine energy systems
• Technical Committee: TC 88 - Wind energy generation systems
• Drafting Committee: MT 23 - TC 88/MT 23
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 30-Jun-2014
• Completion Date: 08-Apr-2014

Relations

• Replaces: IEC TS 61400-23:2001 - Wind turbine generator systems - Part 23: Full-scale structural testing of rotor blades
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 61400-23 ®
Edition 1.0 2014-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Wind turbines –
Part 23: Full-scale structural testing of rotor blades

All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
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IEC 61400-23 ®
Edition 1.0 2014-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Wind turbines –
Part 23: Full-scale structural testing of rotor blades

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
PRICE CODE
X
ICS 27.180 ISBN 978-2-8322-1506-7

– 2 – IEC 61400-23:2014 © IEC 2014
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 5
INTRODUCTION . 7
1 Scope . 8
2 Normative references . 8
3 Terms and definitions . 9
4 Notation . 12
4.1 Symbols . 12
4.2 Greek symbols . 12
4.3 Subscripts . 12
4.4 Coordinate systems . 12
5 General principles . 13
5.1 Purpose of tests . 13
5.2 Limit states . 14
5.3 Practical constraints . 14
5.4 Results of test . 14
6 Documentation and procedures for test blade . 15
7 Blade test program and test plans . 16
7.1 Areas to be tested . 16
7.2 Test program . 16
7.3 Test plans . 16
7.3.1 General . 16
7.3.2 Blade description . 16
7.3.3 Loads and conditions . 17
7.3.4 Instrumentation . 17
7.3.5 Expected test results . 17
8 Load factors for testing . 17
8.1 General . 17
8.2 Partial safety factors used in the design . 17
8.2.1 General . 17
8.2.2 Partial factors on materials . 17
8.2.3 Partial factors for consequences of failure . 18
8.2.4 Partial factors on loads . 18
8.3 Test load factors . 18
8.3.1 Blade to blade variation . 18
8.3.2 Possible errors in the fatigue formulation . 18
8.3.3 Environmental conditions . 19
8.4 Application of load factors to obtain the target load . 19
9 Test loading and test load evaluation . 20
9.1 General . 20
9.2 Influence of load introduction . 20
9.3 Static load testing . 20
9.4 Fatigue load testing . 21
10 Test requirements. 22
10.1 General . 22
10.1.1 Test records . 22
10.1.2 Instrumentation calibration. 22

10.1.3 Measurement uncertainties . 22
10.1.4 Root fixture and test stand requirements . 22
10.1.5 Environmental conditions monitoring . 22
10.1.6 Deterministic corrections . 23
10.2 Static test . 23
10.2.1 General . 23
10.2.2 Static load test. 23
10.2.3 Strain measurement . 24
10.2.4 Deflection measurement . 24
10.3 Fatigue test . 24
10.4 Other blade property tests . 24
10.4.1 Blade mass and center of gravity . 24
10.4.2 Natural frequencies . 25
10.4.3 Optional blade property tests . 25
11 Test results evaluation. 25
11.1 General . 25
11.2 Catastrophic failure . 25
11.3 Permanent deformation, loss of stiffness or change in other blade properties . 26
11.4 Superficial damage . 26
11.5 Failure evaluation . 26
12 Reporting . 26
12.1 General . 26
12.2 Test report content. 27
12.3 Evaluation of test in relation to design requirements . 27
Annex A (informative) Guidelines for the necessity of renewed static and fatigue
testing . 28
Annex B (informative) Areas to be tested . 29
Annex C (informative) Effects of large deflections and load direction . 30
Annex D (informative) Formulation of test load . 31
D.1 Static target load. 31
D.2 Fatigue target load . 31
D.3 Sequential single-axial, single location . 34
D.4 Multi axial single location . 34
Annex E (informative) Differences between design and test load conditions . 36
E.1 General . 36
E.2 Load introduction . 36
E.3 Bending moments and shear . 36
E.4 Flapwise and lead-lag combinations . 36
E.5 Radial loads . 37
E.6 Torsion loads . 37
E.7 Environmental conditions . 37
E.8 Fatigue load spectrum and sequence . 37
Annex F (informative) Determination of number of load cycles for fatigue tests . 38
F.1 General . 38
F.2 Background . 38
F.3 The approach used .
...

IEC 61400-23 ®
Edition 1.0 2014-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Wind turbines –
Part 23: Full-scale structural testing of rotor blades

Éoliennes –
Partie 23: Essais en vraie grandeur des structures des pales de rotor
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
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copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication, please contact the address below or
your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

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About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigenda or an amendment might have been published.

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IEC 61400-23 ®
Edition 1.0 2014-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Wind turbines –
Part 23: Full-scale structural testing of rotor blades

Éoliennes –
Partie 23: Essais en vraie grandeur des structures des pales de rotor

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 27.180 ISBN 978-2-8322-4924-6

– 2 – IEC 61400-23:2014 © IEC 2014
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 5
INTRODUCTION . 7
1 Scope . 8
2 Normative references . 8
3 Terms and definitions . 9
4 Notation . 12
4.1 Symbols . 12
4.2 Greek symbols . 12
4.3 Subscripts . 12
4.4 Coordinate systems . 12
5 General principles . 13
5.1 Purpose of tests . 13
5.2 Limit states . 14
5.3 Practical constraints . 14
5.4 Results of test . 14
6 Documentation and procedures for test blade . 15
7 Blade test program and test plans . 16
7.1 Areas to be tested . 16
7.2 Test program . 16
7.3 Test plans . 16
7.3.1 General . 16
7.3.2 Blade description . 16
7.3.3 Loads and conditions . 17
7.3.4 Instrumentation . 17
7.3.5 Expected test results . 17
8 Load factors for testing . 17
8.1 General . 17
8.2 Partial safety factors used in the design . 17
8.2.1 General . 17
8.2.2 Partial factors on materials . 17
8.2.3 Partial factors for consequences of failure . 18
8.2.4 Partial factors on loads . 18
8.3 Test load factors . 18
8.3.1 Blade to blade variation . 18
8.3.2 Possible errors in the fatigue formulation . 18
8.3.3 Environmental conditions . 19
8.4 Application of load factors to obtain the target load . 19
9 Test loading and test load evaluation . 20
9.1 General . 20
9.2 Influence of load introduction . 20
9.3 Static load testing . 20
9.4 Fatigue load testing . 21
10 Test requirements. 22
10.1 General . 22
10.1.1 Test records . 22
10.1.2 Instrumentation calibration. 22

10.1.3 Measurement uncertainties . 22
10.1.4 Root fixture and test stand requirements . 22
10.1.5 Environmental conditions monitoring . 22
10.1.6 Deterministic corrections . 23
10.2 Static test . 23
10.2.1 General . 23
10.2.2 Static load test. 23
10.2.3 Strain measurement . 24
10.2.4 Deflection measurement . 24
10.3 Fatigue test . 24
10.4 Other blade property tests . 24
10.4.1 Blade mass and center of gravity . 24
10.4.2 Natural frequencies . 25
10.4.3 Optional blade property tests . 25
11 Test results evaluation. 25
11.1 General . 25
11.2 Catastrophic failure . 25
11.3 Permanent deformation, loss of stiffness or change in other blade properties . 26
11.4 Superficial damage . 26
11.5 Failure evaluation . 26
12 Reporting .
...