Design for Additive Manufacturing of a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine

This paper aims to provide the study of a design strategy for 3D printing production process, given its recent development, as well as that of high-performance materials. In particular, we focus on the blade of a wind generator by evaluating new construction methods deriving from new design approaches. The strategies used for the present study are described as follows: firstly, it was necessary to proceed to redesign the blade, by CAD software in order to menage a 3D model for the study and to initialize the whole project; then, the FEM analysis to validate the study. Finally, the AM (Additive Manufacturing) theorization and simulation for both a scaled blade and a full-sized one. The motivation behind this paper draws on the predominance and the constant evolution of the 3D printing in recent years, as well as the continuous research on both development and improvement of costs and performance of composite materials used.