Comparison of Tensile Fatigue Resistance and Constant Life Diagrams for Several Potential Wind Turbine Blade Laminates

Abstract

New fatigue test results are presented for four multidirectional laminates of current and potential interest for wind turbine blades, representing three types of fibers: E-glass, WindStrand™ glass, and carbon, all with epoxy resins. A broad range of loading conditions is included for two of the laminates, with the results represented as mean and 95∕95 confidence level constant life diagrams. The constant life diagrams are then used to predict the performance under spectrum fatigue loading relative to an earlier material. Comparisons of the materials show significant improvements under tensile fatigue loading for carbon, WindStrand, and one of the E-glass fabrics relative to many E-glass laminates in the 0.5–0.6 fiber volume fraction range. The carbon fiber dominated laminate shows superior fatigue and static strengths, as well as stiffness, for all loading conditions.