Compwers & Strucrwes Vol. 48, No. 2. pp. 273-290. 1993 004s7949/93 $6.00 + 0.

00
Printed in Great Britain. 0 1993 Pcrgamon Press Ltd

STATIC AND DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF WIND TURBINE

BLADES USING THE FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
N. M. EL CHAZLY
Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt

(Received 13 March 1992)

AbMract-Interest in the analysis of forces and stresses of horizontal axis propellers and turbines has
increased in recent years because of the need to develop adequate analytical tools for the design and
evaluation of wind turbines rotors. Most structural failures of wind turbines occur in the blade root
section. Hence, a three-dimensional analytical model to compute the deflection, stresses, and eigenvalues
in the rotor blades is proposed using a bending triangular plate finite element. Both membrane and
bending stiffness are considered in deriving the element stiffness matrix. The consistent mass matrix is used
in generating the overall mass matrix. Lift and drag forces created in a steady wind conditions are analysed
as normal and tangential forces on the blade sections at certain angles of attack. These forces are applied
as boundary loads to the computer program to analyse statically and dynamically rotor blades of
symmetrical aerofoil NACA 0015 series. Constant chord, tapered and twisted blades have been analysed
at rated and survival wind speeds. The validity of the computer program used was verified by applying
it to a standard cantilever box beam using the beam theory. The results showed that maximum stresses
occurred at the root of the blades for all configurations in the spanwise direction and that a tapered blade,
in addition to saving material weight, diminished the stresses obtained. The twisting of the blade lead to
the increase of the stiffness and decrease of the stresses.

INTRODUCTION thin-walled beam. Although the isoparametric beam

Wind energy systems erected on windy sites are often
exposed to heavy mechanical overloads due to severe
climatic conditions. So stress and strain mapping on
a rotor blade provide vital information concerning
wind turbine design and lead to the detection of
the blade’s critical section. The analysis of static and
dynamic behaviour of a rotor blade is a basic prob-
lem in rotary wing and wind turbine blades aero-
elasticity, and it has received considerable attention
in recent years [l-4].
The analysis of the torsional behaviour of an
isolated rotor blade has been treated using lengthy
algebraic procedures, the various sets of equations,
which are available in the literature [l-4], used
differential equations with a global [ 1,3] or a local [4]
Galerkin method. However, there are several draw-
backs associated with its use; the amount of algebraic
manipulation is so excessive as to prohibit the treat-
ment of complicated blade configurations in a realistic
manner, and recent developments in wing technology
have profoundly modified the design and behaviour
of rotor blades which means that the available analysis
methodology is not able to deal with all new features.
So alternative analysis procedures become desirable.
Finite element analyses of rotor blades have appeared
in the literature [4,5]. Bauchau and Hong [6] have
investigated the static and dynamic behaviour of
helicopter blades using a tinite element approach based
on a three-dimensional isoparametric beam element
including shear and warping deformations of a
elements are attractive because of their consistent
derivation and their ability to accurately model
complex geometries, the computational complexity
associated with large size problems can be prohibitive.
The small contact surfaces between blade and blade
root can result in high stresses and stress concen-
tration areas detrimental to the fatigue strength of the
blades. The blade footing problem has been studied
[7j by using a French Atomic Energy Commission
code using the finite element method based on a three-
dimensional element that does not allow rotation. The
theoretical results are cross-checked by a laboratory
test which used a shortened-blade device and a rapid
bending test carried out on this device.
The present paper focuses on a geometric and
structural modelling of blades as a first step towards
the complete analysis of rotor blade aeroelastic
problems. The main aim of this work is the analysis
of the stresses resulting from aerodynamic forces
in addition to the computation of the first natural
frequencies of the rotor blade. A Fortran 77 finite
element program using a triangular plate element
(including membrane and bending actions) has been
written and applied to the analysis of the three-
dimensional blade structure. The program was run on
a Tower-NCR computer. The combined plate element
used proved to be powerful, easily programmed,
cheap to use and extremely versatile. It is shown to
be successful in this analysis as will be shown by its
validation when compared to other finite elements
applied on test problems.

213
214 N. M.
NUMERICAL TECHNIQUE
Formulation of the problem
A windmill operates by virtue of the forces that the
wind exerts on its rotor. These forces are transferred
to the load (pump or generator) and the interplay
between rotor and load causes various moments and
forces in each part of the windmill structure. In this
work, the aerodynamic forces, torque and thrust,
causing loads on a rotor blade will be analysed,
although there are two other types of forces applied
on the rotor blade; mainly the mass forces of
weight and inertia, and forces due to load, pump rod
force.
The structural model. The rotor blade under
consideration is made of aluminium, of 2 m length,
a 400mm chord, of symmetric airfoil NACA 0015
section whose characteristics are given by Abbott [8].
Four blade configurations have been analysed. The
characteristics of each of the four configurations
having same airfoil section and length are:
1. Constant chord, zero pitch angle.
2. Constant chord, 40” constant pitch angle.
3. Tapered blade of 0.4 taper ratio.
4. Twisted blade of a twist angle ranging from 7”
to 40”.
Blade forces and wind velocity. A typical blade
airfoil section is shown in Fig. 1, where CIis the angle
of attack, 0 is the pitch angle, r$ = 0 + a, 4 is the
angle between the stream Wand the plane of rotation
or inflow angle, dL is the lift force, dD is the drag
force, V, is the wind resultant or free stream velocity
(m/set), R is the rotational speed (rad/sec), R is
dL
Fig. 1. Airfoil section with wind velocities and forces.
EL CHAZLY
the rotor radius (m) and V is the air velocity
(m/set).
The resultant normal and tangential forces acting
on the blade are obtained by computing the resultant
air pressure on upper and lower blade span, using the
pressure coefficient C, [9] given by
P - P,
c, = -i---Y-
#VII
where C, is the pressure coefficient, characteristic of
airfoil section and depends upon the angle of attack
tl [9], P is the total pressure (N/m*), P,, is the pressure
at a given point (N/m*), p is the air density (kg/m3),
V, is the resultant or free stream velocity (m/set) and
is given by
V; = (QR)* + (V)‘. (2)
From the velocity triangle, Fig. 1, eqn (2), for a
certain section radius R, we can get the angle of
attack a. Knowing a, we can get C,,[9] then from
eqn (1), the relative pressure (P - PO) is obtained
for upper and lower planform areas. This pressure
is then converted to normal or thrust force and the
tangential or force-causing torque. Those forces act
as boundary condition forces.
Finite element analysis of three-dimensional structures
using plate elements
If three-dimensional structures under arbitrary load
conditions are to be analysed using plate elements,
we have to provide both in-plane and bending load
carrying capacity for the elements. The procedure to
be adopted to the blade will be illustrated using
a triangular element. A typical finite element
 Analysis of wind turbine blades 275

Fig. 2. Finite element blade idealization.

44’“2
1. Equilibrium analysis. Triangular plate membrane
element, Fig. 3. A linear displacement field is assumed
o(21Y2) 2 43’“2 under in-plane loads. This displacement model
guarantees continuity of displacements with adjacent
“5 %‘“3
92’“l ‘5 elements
u(x,y)=a,+a,x+a,y
(X,Y)% u x*Y
3 45’“3
(Xl*Yl) 1A ql=“l fdx, y) = a4 + a+ + a6y, (3)
Y
where a,, a,, a3, a,, a5 and a6 are constants.
t X The resulting 6 x 6 in-plane stiffness matrix is
0
expressed as
Fig. 3. Triangular membrane element.

idealization considered in the analysis of a wind

turbine blade is shown in Fig. 2. The blade root is
fixed to the rotor hub and is treated as a cantilevered
box beam.

%=hk- 1

Fig. 4. Triangular plate bending element.

216 N. M. EL CHAZLY

where the submatrices [&I,,, corresponds to the stiff- WI

ness coefficients associated with nodes i and j, and the
WY,
subscript m is used to indicate membrane action and
-W,,
(e) denotes the element. In this case the relationship
between the nodal displacements and nodal forces wz,
can be written as w2

WY2
px, 4 t (7)

11:I
-wx* ’
PY, VI
wz*
px, = [k’“l, 4 (5) w3
PY, 02

u3
px,
03
PY,
where ui and vi denote the components of displace-
ment of node i (i = 1,2,3) parallel to the local x- and
y-axes, respectively. Similarly PX,and PY,indicate the
components of force at node i (i = 1,2,3) parallel to
the x- and y-axes, respectively.
Triangular plate bending element, Fig. 4. At each
node of the plate element shown in Fig. 4, the trans-
verse displacement w and slopes (rotations, about the
x- and y-axes; aw/ay and -aw/ax) are taken as the
degrees of freedom. To maintain geometric isotropy,
the displacement model used is
WYI
- wx,
wz3 _
where w, and Pz, indicate the components of displace-
ment and force parallel to z-axis at node i, My,,
and M, and M,, represent the generalized forces
corresponding to the rotations (generalized displace-
ments), wyi(OX,), w,, (O,,) and w,, (0,) at node i
(i = 1,2,3), respectively, and the subscript b has
been used to denote the bending stiffness matrix. The
12 x 12 bending stiffness matrix (in local coordinate
system) can be written as

w(x, y) = a2x + a,y + a4x2 + a,xy + a,y2

[k”‘], = [{ZJ]b [922), [$:3,lb . (8)

+W3 + a,(x’y + xy2) + qy. (6)

The relation between the forces and displacements Combined plate element. In the three-dimensional
corresponding to the bending of the plate can be analysis under consideration, the in-plane and bend-
written as ing stiffness are combined to give the total element
stiffness matrix [k@)],as shown below

W,,lm I O O O O I k21 / O O O O I w,31, I O O O O

2x2 I 0 0 0 0 / 2xin IO 0 0 01 2x2 I 0 0 0 0

0 0’ jo 0’ 10 0’
0 01 $]b IO 01 IO 01
0 0; 10 0; 10 0;
----- -f-------- T____~______---T-----,-________-
[k,,], ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ I [k32]m ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ I [k,,], I ’ ’ ’ ’
2x2 ,’ 0 0 0 0 , 2x2 I 0 0 0 0, 2x2 , 0 0 0 0

0 0; [i;,)b
/o 0;
k3]b
0 0; /o 0; 10 0’
0 01 IO 01 IO 01
 Analysis of wind turbine blades 271

The global displacements of the nodes of element

e are converted into local displacements as

where {q(e) are the element local displacements,

{Q(‘)} are the element global displacements and [It] is
the transformation matrix.
Using the element local displacements vector {q@)},
the stresses inside the element referred to the local
system are given as

Fig. 5. Combined membrane and plate bending element.

The stiffness matrix given by eqn (9) is referred to

the local xyz coordinate system shown in Fig. 5.
It is necessary in the analysis of three-dimensional
structures, in which the finite elements have different where (D] is the stress-strain relation matrix given by
orientations, to transform the local stiffness matrices
to a common set of global coordinates. The global {a”‘} = [D] {e”‘}, (16)
stiffness matrix of the element is then given by
where {@} is the vector of element strains and [B] is
[K”‘] = [A]qkk”‘][1], (10) the strain-displacement relation matrix, formed from
the combination of membrane element matrix [B,,,]
where the transformation matrix [A] is given by and bending element matrix [&I, and it is a function
of element coordinates

{c(C)}= [B]{q”‘}. (17)

(11)
The local stresses of the element are then converted
into global stresses axx, oyy, ozz, To,., tn, and lyx
and by using the stress transformation relations [13]
- k s nox 0 0 0
10~ may “0~ 0 0 0

loI moz hz 0 0 0
9 (12)
0 0 0 10~ 6 n
0 0 0 10~ may “oy
_ 0 0 0 10~ fiz noz.
where (I,,, fix,, no,) denotes the set of direction
cosines of x-axis [lo] and [0] represents a null square
matrix of order six.
Once the element characteristics, namely the
element stiffness [K(‘)j and the element boundary
forces vector {p(e)} are evaluated in a global co-
ordinate system, the overall or system equations
are constructed by the assembling of the elements
stiffness matrices and elements force vectors. For an
equilibrium problem

WIIQ} = PI. (13)

Equation (13) will be solved for nodal displacements

{Q} after incorporating the boundary conditions
[ll, 121.

CAS 4w2-4
278 N. M. EL CHAZLY

2. Eigenvalue analysis. Modal vibration analysis shown in Fig. 4, the consistent mass matrix of the
of the rotor blade was made to determine if any element can be evaluated as
of the frequencies of the many possible modes of
vibration coincide with the frequencies of the cyclic
aerodynamic loads as resonant vibrations must be [m @lb= PP’IWI dv> (22)
prevented. 10
The eigenvalue physical problem of the free where [N]=[N,][&‘,“~N,] and [t$’ are given by
vibration of the rotor blade is expressed as Rao [lo]. Then

[rn@)lb= P([~-WWW[~ dV. (23)

where [A] denotes the stiffness matrix [K], [B] is the
consistent mass matrix, y is the square of natural
frequency, and {X} is the mode shape of the vibrating
structure.
Consistent mass matrix of a triangular membrane
element. Refering to the element shown in Fig. 3,
the consistent mass matrix of the element can be
given as
9x9
ssif
VW
Assembly of elemental mass matrix. The combined
mass matrix of membrane and bending plate elements
is given by [MC”]in terms of [ml,,, or membrane mass
matrix and [rnb or bending mass matrix.
The eigenvalue problem given by eqn (19) can be
solved using the Rayk+gh-Ritz subspace iteration [12]
to find the solutions for the eigenvectors

Equation (24) - see opposite page

[m @)I,= (20)
9x9

given by
where p is the mass density, V(‘) is the element
X1
volume, and [N] is linear shape functions matrix
given by x2

{x}i= x3
(25)
VW, Y)I=
1- X”
0 N, 0 0 Nr 0 0 Nr 0 , (21) associated with the lowest eigenvalues y, the natural
0
N, 00 N,
0 0
N, 0
0 Nr
0 0
N, 00 N,
0I frequencies of the structure.

N,(x, y), Nr(x, y) and N,(x, y) are given by Rao [lo]. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Consistent mass matrix of a triangular bending Validation of the jinite element used in the analysis of
element. For the triangular plate bending element wind turbine blade
1. A test problem was used to validate the effec-
tiveness of the finite element used in the solution of
deflections and stresses in the rotor blade, a
- Rosen (1983) cantilevered thin-walled box-beam has been used to
---- Bauchzu (1987
-.-a Present F.E. simulate the rotor blade fixed at the rotor hub.
The torsional behaviour of a pre-twisted box beam
under a tip torque and tip axial load were computed
using the present combined membrane-bending
triangular element and compared with the results
obtained by Bauchau [6] who used a three-dimen-
sional isoparametric beam element to solve this prob-
lem, and also compared to the analytical solution
TIP TENSION given by Rosen [14]. Figure 6 shows the comparison
between the present and previous results. The present
finite element solution is in agreement with Bauchau
and Rosen works for angles of twist ranging from
0” to 50”, then there is a deviation, at 70” and 90
twist angle, this may not be a problem in using
Fig. 6. Rre-twisting effects on the torsion of thin-walled the plate finite element because those angles are
box-beam. impractical, and the element used showed to be
 Analysis of wind turbine blades 279

(ml,
11
Cm),
22
Cm),
33+
Cm&
11
(m)b #lb
21 22
(mjb (mjb (mlb
31 32 33
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0000000
Cm), Cm),
41 44
(ml, (ml,
52 55
(ml, (m& (mIb Cm),
63 + 42 43 66+
(mJ Cm&
41 44
(mk (mh (mh crn)b crn)b
51 52 53 54 55
(m]b (mk (mJ crn)b tm)b crn)b
61 62 63 64 65 66
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0000000
(ml, Cm), (ml,
71 74 77
Cm), Cm), Cm),
82 85 88
Cm), @lb (mh (m], crnk crn)b Cm],
93+ 72 73 96+ 75 76 99+
(mjb crn)b crn)b
71 74 77
Cm& (mJ @lb crn)b crn)b crn)b crn)b tm)b
81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88
(mIb (mJ (mIb crn)b crn)b crn)b tm)b tm)b crn)b
91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0000000
L

(24)

effective and adequate for a wide practical range of Table I. Natural freouencies of a box beam
twist angle.
Natural frequency (rad/w)
2. A cantilevered-box beam was also used as a Natural
test problem to validate the natural frequencies of fral=ncy Rao [IO] Present
the rotor blade using the present plate element, number 60DOF 2ODOF work
when compared to the eigenvalues of the same box I 43.029 43.758 41.80
heam used by Rao [lo]. Rao has used an eigenvalue 2 88.414 88.682 91.96
economizer to get the natural frequencies of the heam 3 170.81 171.23 167.20
shown in Fig. 7. JBOF is degrees of freedom.
280 N. M. EL C~ZLY

Fig. 7. A cantilevered box-beam.

Tip

-I-

-2-

-3-

-4-

-5-

-6-

-7 -

-8 -
- at x = 120 mm
-___ at x = 240 mm
-91

.ll-

-12”

-13-

-14,

Fig. 8(a). Stresses along blade upper surfaces.

 Analysis of wind turbine blades 281

Rao [lo] has modelled the top and bottom by using
constant stress triangular elements, the webs are
represented by shear triangles where [keel = [k!)],
where [k!“] is the shear stiffness matrix.
Table 1 shows the comparison of the results
obtained by the present work and those obtained by
Rao [lo], for the first three eigenvalues, they are in
good agreement.
Analysis of a 4 m rotor blade, NACA 0015 airfoil
section, 4OOmtn chord, zero pitch angle, zero twist
angle and zero taper
The finite element idealization of a typical blade is
shown in Fig. 2.
For the configuration shown, the stresses will be
calculated for the maximum gust speed and the wind-
mill rated speed, V = 50 and 12 m/set, respectively.
Figure 8(a) shows the relation between by, CT,and
Y, the station of airfoil sections along the blade span,
on the upper surface, for different positions in the
airfoil section (x-direction). The stress uv appears to
be dominant and to be the most serious stress causing
bending at the rotor hub or blade root, which is then
the critical cross-section, while 0, appears to have
small effect.
Figure 8(b) shows the same previous relations for
lower blade surface. game trend takes place but the
values of the stresses are lower than those on the

11 -

- at x = 120 nm
--__ at x = 240 nm
6-

5-

4-

3-

2-

l-

0
(

-1 -

-2 -

Fig. E(b). Stresses along blade lower surfaces.

282 N.
-141
Fig. 9. Stresses across airfoil section. (a) Blade upper surface. (b) Blade lower surface.
upper surface and of opposite signs. The upper
surface is under compression, while the lower one is
under tension, the higher values on the upper surface
are attributed to the high relative pressure which
tends to lift the blade.
Figures 9(a, b) show the stresses distributions
across the airfoil section at different blade station
or y coordinate on the upper and lower surfaces,
respectively. The figures show that the maximum
stresses occur near the leading edge.
Effect of tapering and pitch a&e on the behaviour of
the rotor blade
Figures lO(a, b) show the stress distribution along
the span of untapered, untwisted, zero pitch blade,
as compared with that of 0.4 taper, zero pitch, and
with zero taper and 40” pitch angle.
The blade taper ratio is the ratio between the chord
M. EL CHAZLY
(a)
- at Blade Root (y=O)
____ at (y = 1000 lmll)
(b)
length at the blade root to the chord length at the
blade tip.
The effect of tapering the blade is obvious; it tends
to decrease the stresses. On the other hand, from
aerodynamical point of view, it improves the wind
rotor performance [l&17] although it would increase
manufacturing cost.
It is clear that the setting of the blade to the rotor
hub at an angle greater than zero decreases the
stresses, this is attributed to the decrease in angle of
attack a on which depends the pressure distribution
along the blade span.
Effect of wind speed on the stress distribution along
the blade
Figures 1l(a, b) show the stresses resulting on
the rotor blade due to gust and rated wind speed.
Very high stresses occur at high wind speed, so, on
 Analysis of wind turbine blades 283

-2

-8

-9

-10

-11

-12

-13

L
Fig. IO(a). Effect of pitch angle, tapering on stresses on upper blade surface.
284 N. M. EL CHAZLY

10

Y (4 d 1.
1 I I I t t I 1
200 400 600 800 1000 _c.-.-:-_--m l -*

Fig. 10(b). Effect of pitch angle, tapering on stresses on lower blade surface.
 Analysis of wind turbine blades 285

1:

12

11
- wind Speed 50 m/set
---- wind Speed 12 m/set
10

$6
z5
2
E
z 4

-1

-2

Fig. 1l(a). Et&x%of wind speed on stnss#r along blade lower span at x = 120mm.
286 N. M. EL CHAZLY

- Wind Speed 50 m/set

---- Wind Speed 12 m/set

-4-

-5,

2
4
- -6-
:
E
=; _7_

Fig. 11(b). Effect of wing speed on stresses along blade upper span at x = 120mm.
 Analysis of wind turbine blades 287

- o” Twist
--____ 15’ Twist
-*-*-- 22iJ: ;;;:;
_.._..
-..._. 40’ Twtst

Fig. 12(a). Effect of tip twist angle on uv along blade lower span.
288 N. M. EL CHAZLY

- 0' Twist
L-_--- 15“ Twist
-.-m-+ 22.V Twist
_.._.. 30" Twist
_..._. 40' Twist

Fig. 12(b). Effect of tip twist angle on Q,,along blade upper span.
 Analysis of wind turbine blades 289

0' Twist
______ 15' Twist
-s-.-. 22.5" Twist
_.._.. 30' Twist
_..._. 40" Twist

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

(a)

200 400 600 100 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

______ 15" Twist

-.-.-. 22.5' Twist
_.._.. 30" Twist
_..._. 40" Twist

Fig. 13. Effect of tip twist angle on CT~

along blade span. (a) Blade upper surface. (b) Blade lower surface.

designing a rotor blade, we must design it for highest
probable wind speed.
E#ect of twist angle on the stress distribution along
the blade span
The twist angle is measured from the root, set at
40” pitch angle, to the blade tip.
Figures 12(a, b) and 13(a, b) show that increasing
the twist angle from zero to 22.5”, the stresses
decrease then increase for twist angles 30” and 40”,
this means that there is an optimum angle of twist
which will be beneficial from the point of view of the
strength of the blade, after which, the stresses become
worse. This effect is similar to the effect of the twist
angle on the wind turbine power and efficiency which
increase till reaching an optimum twist angle [16, 17]
after which they decrease.
Effect of twist angle on the natural frequencies of the
wind turbine rotor blade
Figure 14 shows the effect of twist angle on the
three lowest natural frequencies of the rotor blade.
Increasing the twist angle, decreasing the eigenvalue,
this means that twisting decreases the probability of
reaching the resonant frequency.
CONCLUSIONS
1. The combined membrane-bending triangular
plate element proved to be a successul finite element
in the analysis of three-dimensional structures, as it
takes into account six degrees of freedom at each
element node.
2. When compared with other numerical and
analytical results, the present finite element predic-
tions are found to be accurate and in good agreement
with those results, as obtained from the analysis of
the torsional behaviour of a pre-twisted box beam
under a tip torque and tip axial load.
3. It is found to predict satisfactorily the eigen-
values of three-dimensional cantilevered structures,
when compared to the analysis conducted by Rao
[101.
4. It proved to be a simple element which can treat
specific features and configurations of the blade, as
tapering and tip twisting.
5. For all blade configurations, the maximum stress
occurs at the blade root, fixed to the rotor hub, so it
is the most critical section which must be taken into
consideration when designing a rotor-blade fixation.
6. Setting the blade at an angle to the plane of
rotation increases its strength and so do the tapering
of the blade.
7. The twisting of the blade tip increases the
strength of the blade as the stiffness increases, but
at a certain twist angle, the stress begins to exceed
those for zero twist angle.
8. The twisting of the blade tip affect the free
vibration of the blade in such a way to decrease eigen
values.
290 N. M. EL CHAZLY

1.7 *.\
\. ‘1
1.6
. ‘\ ‘1.
‘\ ‘.
‘\ \ - First Eigen Value
1.5 ---- Second Eigen Value
'\ '\.
-.-. Third Eigen Value
'\ \

I 1.4 \ '*
\ y
\ y
z 1.3 1 1.
.r
: \
\
: *\
& 1.2 '\ '\
t \
2 \, ".\
5 1.1
c, \ '\
2

1.0

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0 5 10 15 20 25 Tsi twi&(Dei!)

Fig. 14. Effect of tip twist angle on natural frequencies.

Acknowledgemenr-The author would like to thank Eng.
K. Maalawy, the assistant lecturer in the Department of
Mechanical Engineering, for his valuable assistance.
REFERRNCRS
1. P. P. Friedmann, Formulation and solution of rotary-
wing aeroelastic stability and resonance problem. Ferrica
7, No. 2 (1983).
2. D. H. Hodges and E. H. Dowell, Nonlinear
equations of motion of the elastic bending and torsion
of twisted nonuniform rotor blades. NASA TN D-78 18
(1974).
3. P. P. Friedmann, Influence of modeling and blade
parameter on the aeroelastic stability of cantilevered
rotors. AIAA JI 15, No. 5 (1977).
4. P. P. Friedmann and F. Straub, Applications of the
finite element method to rotary-wing aeroelasticity.
J. Am. Helicopter Sot. 25, No. 1 (1980).
5. N. T. Sivaneri and I. Chopra, Finite element analysis for
bearingless rotor blade aeroelasticity. J. Am. Helicopter
Sot. 29, No. 2 (1984).
6. 0. A. Bauchau and Chang-Hee Hong, Finite element
approach to rotor blade modeling. J. Am. Helicopter
Sot. 32, 60-67 (1987).
7. SoreI, D. Bainville, M. Maegey, J. M. Noel and
G. Seger, Application of the finite element method
to the study of the behaviour of blades of industrial
wind energy systems. Third International Symposium
on Wind Energy Systems, Paper D3, August 26-29
(1980).
. ,
8. I. H. Abbott and A. E. von Doenhoff, Theory of Wing
Sections. Dover, New York (1959).
9. L. L. Frerris, Wind Energy Conversion Systems.
Prentice-Hall (1990).
10. S. S. Rao, The Finite Element Method in Engineering.
Pergamon Press (1982).
II. 0. C. Zienkiewicz, The Finite Element Method in
Engineering. McGraw-Hill (1971).
12. K. J. Bathe, Finite Element Procedures in Engineering
Analysis. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ (1982).
13. H. S. Irving, Mechanics of Deformable Solids. Prentice-
Hail, Englewood Cliffs, NJ (1964).
14. A. Rosen, Theoretical and experimental investigation of
the nonlinear torsion and extension of initially twisted
bars. J. appl. Mech. 50 (1983).
15. E. M. Lysen, Introduction to wind energy. Consultancy
Services Wind Energy Developing Countries, CWD 82-l
(1983).
16. R. E. Walters et al., Innovative wind machines executive
summary and 8nal report. ERDA/NSF/OO367-76/2
(1976).
17. B. Downs, The effect of substantial pmtwist on the
stiffness properties of thin beams of cambered section.
J. appl. Mech. 46, June (1979).
18. J. B. John and L. S. Michael, Aerodynamics for
Engineering. Prentice-Hall (1980).
19. T. A. Rock and E. Hinton, A finite element method for
the free vibration of plates allowing for transverse shear
deformation. Compur. Srrucr. 6 (1976).
20. K. P. Walker, Vibrations of cambered helicoidal fan
blades. J. Sound Vibr. 59, No. I (1978).