Normalization Process Technique of a Small Composite Wind Turbine Blades

Advancements in composite material technology have spurred an increase in the use of composites in modern wind turbine's blades structure. In addition to the desirable high strength, low-weight features of these material systems, the enhanced fatigue strength and damage tolerance has made composites particularly attractive for advanced structural applications. In this paper, the normalization process technique of the resin transfer molding (RTM) and compression molding was used to manufacture composite wind turbine blade by the stacking of pieces of glass-fiber fabrics、 expandable polystyrene (EPS) foam and insert parts in an interior pressure mold. The blade perform is a composite foam-filled sandwich structure, where the interior is an EPS foam layer while the exterior is coated with main fibre layer、root reinforcing fiber layer and insert parts. The insert parts investigated were I-beam、LED、conductor、root connection joint and repair patch. This is designed to provide the maximum bending stiffness in the flexure to resist the stress concentration of the composite wind turbine blade. This research also will be used to develop adhesive bonding repair techniques for life extension of damaged components in wind turbine blade. A number of composite foam-filled sandwich wind turbine blade constructions were fabricated to demonstrate the feasibility and applications of the proposed manufacturing method.