Rapid in situ remediation of glass fiber wind turbine blades in low temperature environment

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate a novel remediation methodology for GFRP manufactured wind turbine blades for improving their maintenance under different environment and loading conditions. The fundamental specimens that were fabricated using wet prepreg manufacture technic were pre-damaged then repaired by attaching external glass fiber patches. The repair patches were penetrated by epoxy or UV resin, followed by ambient, [Formula: see text] curing or ultraviolet irradiation curing, respectively. Tensile, flexure, short beam shear tests and end notch flexure (ENF) test were conducted both in room and low temperature according to ASTM standards. The UV cured resin repaired specimens revealed better properties than epoxy in low temperature. The higher external-fundamental laminate interfacial bonding strength and lower velocity of crack diffusion, as well as the initiation of thermal residual stress, resulted in better mechanical properties under low temperature environment. In addition, the outstanding performance of UV resin was thought as the high crystallinity content curing by ultraviolet irradiation and the great inherent strength of itself.