Synthesis, fabrication and mechanical characterization of reinforced epoxy and polypropylene composites for wind turbine blades

Abstract

Failure of wind turbine blades usually originates from manufacturing defects or in-service defects. In this study, materials selection for manufacturing of wind turbine blades was carried out based on the mechanical and physical results obtained using the Cambridge Engineering Selector program. Thermoplastic and thermosetting composites were synthesized and processed using injection molding and vacuum assisted resin infusion techniques, respectively. Operating conditions (vacuum pressure and temperature) were optimized. The manufactured samples were tested and evaluated using destructive tests. Tensile and fatigue tests were carried out. Polypropylene random discontinuous glass fiber composites were synthesized and processed using mold injection technique. Epoxy-carbon, glass and carbon/Kevlar hybrid fiber composites were manufactured using vacuum assisted resin infusion technique. Surface morphology was characterized using scanning electron microscope analysis. Tensile strength and fatigue resistance were significantly improved by the presence of E-glass fiber (30 wt%) in polypropylene-glass fiber composites. The experimental results were compared with the Cambridge Engineering selector software database. Epoxy-carbon (carbon fiber fraction is 0.61) and carbon/Kevlar hybrid (fibers fraction is 0.6) composites showed superior mechanical properties. Epoxy/carbon composite can withstand stresses up to 1390 MPa at 10 6 cycles.

Optimizing Polymer Infusion Process for Thin Ply Textile Composites with Novel Matrix System

“…Over the years, VARI process has become a versatile method for processing thermoset and thermoplastic resin having low viscosity, if used by controlling the process parameters such as vacuum and proper degassing [ 18 , 19 , 20 ]. Studies have also been carried out on infusion processes for composites with polypropylene [ 21 ] and PETI-RFI, a polymer showing thermoplastic characteristics and cross links at higher temperature [ 22 ]. This process is serving many industries from sports to light rail to marine to aerospace [ 20 ].…”

Mechanical and viscoelastic study of functionalized MWCNTs/epoxy/Kevlar composites

“…Reinforced plastics (RPs) have previously been studied due to their high stiffness values and mechanical strength . The most common matrix for RPs is epoxy, which contains versatile mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, low shrinkage, effective adhesion strength, and processing flexibility, due to its reactive epoxy ring . MWCNTs have gained immense importance in the field of polymer composites and have led to commercial applications.…”

Suitability of utilizing small horizontal axis wind turbines for off grid loads in eastern region of Saudi Arabia

“…According to Albani et al (2014), all energy forms or sources have an adverse environmental impact but the wind energy does not, compared to conventional energy sources. Wind energy is one of the cleanest, benign, and environment friendly source of energy and is not going to diminish like fossil fuels having fixed and limited reserves (Al-Qabandi et al, 2014;Bassyouni and Gutub, 2013;Ozgur and Kose, 2006). Lara et al (2011) evaluated a 3 kW wind turbine for charging a battery bank of 48 V/ 880 A h by means of a six-pulse rectifier.…”