Pre-cured rotor blade components having areas of variable stiffness
The present disclosure is directed to a rotor blade component for a wind turbine. The rotor blade component includes a plurality of pre-cured members arranged in one or more layers. Each of the pre-cured members is constructed of a plurality of fiber materials cured together via a resin material having a first stiffness and at least additional material having a second stiffness. Further, the second stiffness is lower than the first stiffness. As such, the additional low-stiffness material is cured within the resin material so as to increase flexibility of the pre-cured members.
1. A rotor blade component for a wind turbine, the rotor blade component comprising:
a plurality of pre-cured members arranged in one or more layers, each of the pre-cured members comprising:
a plurality of fiber materials cured together via a resin material having a first stiffness; and,
at least one additional material cured within the resin material and having a second stiffness, the second stiffness being lower than the first stiffness,
wherein the additional material increases flexibility of the pre-cured members.
2. The rotor blade component of claim 1 , wherein the pre-cured members are formed via at least one of pultrusion or belt-pressing.
3. The rotor blade component of claim 1 , wherein the rotor blade component comprises at least one of a spar cap, a shear web, or a root ring.
4. The rotor blade component of claim 1 , wherein the additional material comprises at least one of a rubber material, a silicon material, a foam material, or a flexible glass material.
5. The rotor blade component of claim 1 , wherein the additional material comprises a pre-cured low-stiffness component.
6. The rotor blade component of claim 5 , wherein the low-stiffness component comprises at least one of the following cross-sectional shapes: square, arcuate, rectangular, T-shaped, V-shaped, or U-shaped.
7. The rotor blade component of claim 1 , wherein the low-stiffness component comprises a solid cross-section.
8. The rotor blade component of claim 1 , wherein the low-stiffness component comprises a hollow cross-section.
9. The rotor blade component of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pre-cured members are further joined together via at least one of vacuum infusion, an adhesive, a pre-preg material, or a semi-preg material.
10. The rotor blade component of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fiber materials comprises at least one of glass fibers, carbon fibers, polymer fibers, ceramic fibers, nanofibers, or metal fibers.
11. The rotor blade component of claim 1 , wherein the resin material further comprises at least one of a thermoplastic material or a thermoset material.
12. A rotor blade of a wind turbine, the rotor blade comprising:
a blade root and a blade tip;
a leading edge and a trailing edge;
a suction side and a pressure side; and,
at least one spar cap configured on an internal surface of either or both of the pressure or suction sides, the at least one spar cap constructed from a plurality of pre-cured members arranged in one or more layers, each of the pre-cured members comprising a plurality of fiber materials cured together via a resin material having a first stiffness and at least additional material cured within the resin material and having a second stiffness, the second stiffness being lower than the first stiffness, wherein the additional material increases flexibility of the pre-cured members.
13. The rotor blade of claim 12 , wherein the pre-cured members are formed via at least one of pultrusion or belt-pressing.
14. The rotor blade of claim 12 , wherein the additional material comprises at least one of a rubber material, a silicon material, a foam material, or a flexible glass material.
15. The rotor blade of claim 12 , wherein the additional material comprises a pre-cured low-stiffness component, the low-stiffness component comprising at least one of the following cross-sectional shapes: square, arcuate, rectangular, T-shaped, V-shaped, or U-shaped.
16. The rotor blade of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of pre-cured members are further joined together via at least one of vacuum infusion, an adhesive, a pre-preg material, or a semi-preg material.