Design of Proposed Wind Turbine Tower Testing Facility at the University of Wyoming

A wind turbine tower testing facility at the University of Wyoming has the potential to improve tower design by providing the capability to test new designs and composites. The proposed facility will have the capability to test up to 100 ft tall towers for strength and fatigue. This will allow for the testing of scale models and segments of full-sized towers. While the testing walls must be able to withstand all loads applied to the towers themselves, they must also be able to withstand any natural stresses such as those from the Wyoming wind. Design must take into account the multitude of stresses that the tower might experience under currently anticipated loading and provide for future testing with increased intensity. Additionally, to allow for future growth and current financial constraints, multi-stage construction will be considered.