Structural reuse of dismantled wind turbine blades in architecture: load-bearing feasibility
Pablo Hernández Vílchez, Ferran Ventura Blanch, Fernando Gómez Martínez, Vishal Shahdadpuri AswaniPurpose
This paper addresses the critical environmental challenge of decommissioned wind turbine blades by exploring their direct structural reuse in the built environment. It investigates the mechanical feasibility of repurposing these complex composite shells as self-supporting, load-bearing elements in architectural applications.
Design/methodology/approach
The study utilizes finite element method (FEM) simulations to evaluate the structural behavior of blades ranging from 30 to 105 meters under static loads. Structural viability is assessed under different boundary conditions (fixed and doubly pinned supports) and applied to four architectural case studies (stadium roofs, pedestrian bridges, slabs and pergolas) following Spanish regulatory frameworks (CTE and IAP-11).
Findings
The results suggest the structural feasibility of the blades, which exhibit significant bending stiffness and load-bearing capacity for architectural spans, provided that their primary high-stiffness axis is respected. In fixed support configurations, serviceability limit states (deflection) govern the design, whereas ultimate limit states (material strength) constrain doubly pinned configurations.
Research limitations/implications
This study adopts a deliberate macro-structural abstraction, evaluating the complex blade geometry as a continuous load-bearing beam. By employing static models with conservative, idealized properties, this methodology provides a reliable, code-compliant baseline for preliminary architectural design. Consequently, it consciously defers the evaluation of aeroelastic resonance, micromechanical failure criteria and residual fatigue degradation. This work functions as a necessary conceptual precursor; any practical implementation strictly requires individualized non-destructive testing (NDT) and site-specific dynamic validation to certify the element for its second structural life.
Practical implications
This research explores the possibility of giving these elements a second life by approaching them through the logic and intuition of architectural design. Through the study of various practical cases, it offers spatial solutions that illustrate the initial feasibility of this system, opening an inspiring path to transform what is currently industrial waste into a valuable structural resource.
Originality/value
The originality of this research lies in overcoming the aesthetic approach to the recycling of wind turbine components by proposing their direct structural integration. By interpreting the blade's behavior through a macrostructural beam model and strictly applying current regulatory limit states (CTE, IAP-11), the study evaluates its performance through architectural case studies. In this way, it provides an objective and well-founded methodological framework for the reuse of complex infrastructures in the built environment.