FLEXURAL BEHAVIOR OF POST-TENSIONED CONCRETE FILLED FRP TUBE FOR WIND TURBINE TOWER APPLICATIONS

This study investigates the potential application of post-tensioned concrete-filled FRP tubes (CFFT) for wind turbine towers. A 5.8 m tall hollow core CFFT tower with a tapered profile (base and top diameters of 533 and 417 mm, respectively) was tested experimentally; first under free vibration conditions, followed by cyclic loading under concentric and eccentric lateral loads, and finally under monotonic loading to failure. The tower failed in flexure near the base as a result of GFRP tube rupture. Preliminary results suggest that CFFTs can be a promising alternative to conventional wind turbine tower systems, offering transportability, durability, and tailorable structural characteristics.