Experimental Study of Preload and Bolt Arrangement on Composite Joint Performance in Megawatt Wind Turbine's Nacelle Cover and Nose Cone

The nacelle cover and nose cones of most megawatt wind turbines are made of composite sheets. Due to the complex shapes, geometries, and large dimensions of these components, they are composed of several parts that must be assembled using non-permanent mechanical joints, such as bolts. Therefore, it is very important to consider all the effective parameters that affect composite joints. One of the most critical design parameters for bolt connections is the amount of bolt preload or tightening torque. However, increasing the preload without caution is not feasible due to the composite material present on both sides of the joint, as this can potentially damage the composite sheets. As a result, this paper aims to evaluate experimentally the effect of bolt preload or tightening torque on composite joints. To achieve this, identical specimens were fabricated, each with a different bolt tightening torque ranging from 2 Nm to 50 Nm. These specimens were then subjected to a tensile load. After determining the optimal preload force, four different types of arrangements were experimentally tested to find the best bolt arrangement. Finally, by examining various aspects, the best arrangement for connecting different parts of the nacelle cover and nose cone was determined.