Abstract
Composite materials are the natural choice for the construction of tidal energy blades; their high strength, good environmental resistance and the ease with which they may be used to form complex shapes means that they are well suited to the application. The design of MW-scale tidal energy blades has evolved over a number of years, keeping step with the requirements of turbine developers as their emphasis shifts from prototyping to production. In parallel, it has been necessary to develop a rigorous approach to materials testing and qualification. The specifics of the blade structure and the operational environment mean that it has been necessary to solve a number of complications that arise during such a qualification programme. These issues are discussed and efforts to mitigate their consequences are explained. Although this chapter is written particularly with tidal energy blades in mind, much of the content will be applicable to a wide range of other applications where composite materials are used in the marine environment.
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Acknowledgements
The authors wish to acknowledge the support afforded by the European funded MARINET (Marine Renewables Infrastructure Network) programme, which has enabled this study and promoted valuable cross-border collaboration.
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Dawson, M., Davies, P., Harper, P., Wilkinson, S. (2018). Composite Materials in Tidal Energy Blades. In: Davies, P., Rajapakse, Y. (eds) Durability of Composites in a Marine Environment 2. Solid Mechanics and Its Applications, vol 245. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65145-3_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65145-3_10
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