Composite Star-Beams as Pitch Compliant Tension-Torsion Support Mechanism for Active Windmill Blade Tips

In this paper we provide a preliminary design level first evaluation of the applicability of modified cross section composite star beams as tension-torsion pitch actuation compliant mechanisms for large size wind turbine blade tips, and we provide estimates of stiffness and mass per unit length reachable within the geometric and material system constraints of a 25%R blade tip for a realistic large wind turbine blade.