Fiberglass blades

New know-how, new materials and new processes
Our testing and analysis work helps us find any weak points in existing materials, so that we can eliminate them. It also leads us to requirements for improvements in specific materials properties. We pass these on to our suppliers, and work closely with them to make it all happen.

Strategic partnerships of this kind require considerable technical insight on all sides - one example is when we have to prepare specifications for the chemical surface on the fibre, or for a new weave for the glass-fibre mat. We often have to inspect the supplier's production processes in detail to make sure our needs are met in full.

Integrated testing
Reliability down to the tiniest detail
LM Glasfiber's material mechanics experts are always on the lookout for details that will help us improve our blade designs. It's only by being completely familiar with the outer limits of these materials' capabilities - and then stretching the envelope all the time - that we can ensure that each blade is reliable, durable and cost-effective. And do so without using more than is really needed, and without using materials that are more expensive than really necessary.

Microscopic examination
It's often the small details that lead to major technology breakthroughs. That's why we examine the microstructure of the materials we use in the lab, as part of our analysis of their overall properties. This helps reveal how these materials will perform when used in large-scale composite structures, paving the way to achieving the best possible quality.

To study these properties, we produce a special test model, which then undergoes a range of different tests. Part of these involves a special pull-and-push testing machine that uses computer-controlled servo-hydraulics to test the strength and stiffness of a particular material. The test unit is then inspected under a microscope. Any signs of damage always make their first appearance in the microstructure.

Different combinations of glass fibre and resin, under different process conditions, result in a wide range of different properties and strengths. The combination of testing and examination under a microscope enables us to map these in great detail so that we can adjust the properties of each laminate to any specific requirement, at the same time as making sure that any potential weaknesses are eliminated.

Breaking strength of boundary areas
Boundary areas, such as glued joints and interfaces between laminates and the core material, have a critical influence on the overall structural strength of a wind turbine blade. LM Glasfiber has worked with the Risø National Laboratory in Denmark to develop a method for testing mechanical breaking strength. This introduces different loadings using force moments, which makes it possible to apply well-defined loads in several different axes at once. These correspond to the forces that act on the blade while in real-life operation. These test procedures are carried out in our own specially developed mixed-mode test machine.

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