Obtaining experimental data suitable for validation of a numerical design tool for an adaptive composite free stream tidal turbine blade

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Description/Abstract

Free stream tidal turbines are a source of growing inter-est in the marine renewable energy field. Some designs use active control devices to vary the pitch of the blade in order to maximize the efficiency of the turbines; however these are complex to design, construct and maintain under the severe load conditions subsea devic-es experience. Adaptive materials have been used in the wind industry to create bend-twist coupled blades in an effort to bring turbine efficiency ever closer to the Betz limit, and increase annual energy capture. This paper details an experimental method for the assessment of the performance of a bend-twist coupled carbon double box beam as the main structural spar of an adaptive free stream tidal turbine blade