Simulated hail impacts on flexible photovoltaic laminates: testing and modelling

The problem of simulated low-velocity hail impacts on flexible photovoltaic (PV) modules resting on a substrate with variable stiffness is investigated. For this type of PV module it is shown that the prescriptions of the IEC 61215 International Standard for quality control used for rigid (glass-cov...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Meccanica (Milan) 2017-04, Vol.52 (6), p.1425-1439
Main Authors: Corrado, Mauro, Infuso, Andrea, Paggi, Marco
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Automotive Engineering
Civil Engineering
Classical Mechanics
Electric contacts
Electroluminescence
Finite element method
Hail
Impact tests
Inspection
Laminates
Mechanical Engineering
Modules
Photovoltaic cells
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
Quality control
Simulation
Stiffness
Stress propagation
Stress waves
Substrates
Wave propagation
Wave reflection
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Summary:The problem of simulated low-velocity hail impacts on flexible photovoltaic (PV) modules resting on a substrate with variable stiffness is investigated. For this type of PV module it is shown that the prescriptions of the IEC 61215 International Standard for quality control used for rigid (glass-covered) PV modules should be augmented by taking into account their real mounting condition and the stiffness of the substrate in the simulated hail impact tests. Moreover, electroluminescence inspection of the crack pattern should be made in addition to electric power output measurements. An implicit finite element simulation of the contact problem in dynamics is also proposed, with two different degrees of accuracy, to interpret the experimentally observed extension of cracking. Results pinpoint the important role of stress wave propagation and reflection in the case of soft substrates.
ISSN:0025-6455
1572-9648
DOI:10.1007/s11012-016-0483-2