ADVANTAGES OF FIBERGLASS
Lightweight
High Strength
Corrosion & Rust Resistant
Good Electrical Insulator
Weather Resistant
Low Maintenance
Durable & Long Lasting
FIBERGLASS IN WIND ENERGY
A modern utility-scale turbine (3–15 MW) contains 10–30 tonnes of glass fiber composites, with the blade accounting for ~95% of that mass.
A blade is essentially a thin-walled composite box beam.
3-15MV
Turbine Capacity
10-30 Tonnes
Glass Fiber Composites
~95%
Mass in Blade
SHELL SKIN
Material
• E-glass biaxial/triaxial stitched fabrics
• Typical areal weight: 600-1,200 gsm
• Resin: epoxy (dominant) or vinyl ester
Function
• Maintain airfoil shape
• Resist buckling
• Carry torsion and edgewise loads
Typical Layup
• ±45° for torsion
• 0° axial stiffness
• 90° for transverse stability
SPAR CAPS
Material
• Made with unidirectional E-glass fabrics
• Oriented 0 deg along the blade length
Function
• Carry the majority of flapwise bending loads
Typical Layup
• 0° for maximum axial stiffness
• Additional ±45° layers for shear and stability
SHEAR WEBS
Material
• Typically plus/minus 45 deg E-glass biax ial fabrics
Function
•Core function is shear transfer between spar caps
Typical
• Thickness: typically 6-20 mm
