Composite Materials for Wind Power Turbine Blades

Abstract

▪ Abstract Renewable energy resources, of which wind energy is prominent, are part of the solution to the global energy problem. Wind turbine and the rotorblade concepts are reviewed, and loadings by wind and gravity as important factors for the fatigue performance of the materials are considered. Wood and composites are discussed as candidates for rotorblades. The fibers and matrices for composites are described, and their high stiffness, low density, and good fatigue performance are emphasized. Manufacturing technologies for composites are presented and evaluated with respect to advantages, problems, and industrial potential. The important technologies of today are prepreg (pre-impregnated) technology and resin infusion technology. The mechanical properties of fiber composite materials are discussed, with a focus on fatigue performance. Damage and materials degradation during fatigue are described. Testing procedures for documentation of properties are reviewed, and fatigue loading histories are discussed, together with methods for data handling and statistical analysis of (large) amounts of test data. Future challenges for materials in the field of wind turbines are presented, with a focus on thermoplastic composites, new structural materials concepts, new structural design aspects, structural health monitoring, and the coming trends and markets for wind energy.

Influence of carbon nanotubes on the thermal, electrical and mechanical properties of poly(ether ether ketone)/glass fiber laminates

“…The polymer (PEEK 150PF) was supplied in fine powder form by Victrex plc, UK (M w $ 40,000 g/mol, T g = 147°C, T m = 345°C, 3 , g 350°C $ 10 3 Pa s). Arc and laser-grown SWCNTs were synthesized following the procedures reported in our previous works [25,26].…”

“…The E-glass plain weave fiber fabric (TG09P) used in this work was purchased from JB Martin, Canada. It had an areal density of 0.0282 g/cm 2 , d 25°C = 2.50 g/cm 3 , and consists of bundles of microfibers (tows) with a single fiber diameter of $12 lm.…”

“…doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2011.03.011 energy sector, both in alternative energy, e.g. wind turbine blades [3], and conventional energy generation, e.g. underground oil-drilling [4].…”

Wind Turbine Blade Design

“…Gravitational centrifugal forces are mass dependant which is generally thought to increase cubically with increasing turbine diameter [38]. Therefore, turbines under ten meters diameter have negligible inertial loads, which are marginal for 20 meters upward, and critical for 70 meter rotors and above [4].…”

Failure mode shifts during constant amplitude fatigue loading of GFRP/foam core sandwich beams

“…An industrial sector where fatigue of composite laminates is very important is in wind power. Many wind turbine blades are made from glass NCF's and fatigue is one of the main design constraints [17]. There is a very comprehensive investigation of fatigue of laminates for wind turbine applications made by Nijssen [18].…”