Suitability of Raw-Crushed Wind-Turbine Blade for Use in Concrete Production

Abstract

A lot of wind farms are nearing the end of their lifespan, and the residue generated by their wind turbine blades demands urgent attention. This study suggests a novel recycling process, where dismantled wind turbine blades are transformed into a raw material for concrete production. The process involves a pretreatment of raw cutting of the blade walls, without separating the components, crushing, and sieving. This results in a waste material that has been called Raw-Crushed Wind-Turbine Blade (RCWTB). In this research, the main characterizations of the residue were studied, as well as the potential of their components to serve as both fibers and aggregates in concrete. Moreover, to achieve suitable workability, a customized mixture design and a mixing procedure in five stages were developed for concrete containing up to 6% RCWTB. The main preliminary outcomes include that the addition of RCWTB improved flexural strength of concrete and reduced its carbon footprint. Although a slight decrease in compressive strength was observed, the results were suitable for construction purposes and this initial approach seems to provide a viable solution for recycling wind turbine blades.