Structure integrity assessment of a windflow power plant's axle

A structure Integrity assessment was performed according to the FITNET* structure integrity procedure on axle with multiple cracks in the critical section. In order to determined the stress-strain condition of axle, numerical modeling was performed by using finite element methods. The results show that the range of the stress integrity factor for dynamic loading can exceed the fatigue stress intensity factor at threshold regions. Therefore, fatigue crack propagation by finding flaws is possible. Results also show, that the final collapse of an axle appears at a significant fatigue crack size. On the basis of these results, repairing by the welding of the critical area of an axle is recommended.