TPI Composites, Inc.
SHIFTING LAYUP METHOD FOR STRUCTURAL COMPOSITE COMPONENTS WITH COMPLEX SURFACE GEOMETRY AND NON-LINEAR FIBER PATH

Abstract:

Shifting is a method for manipulating unidirectional non-crimp fabrics that allows for a curved fiber path along with compound surface geometry. The bases for shifting is understanding unidirectional (UD) non-crimp-fabrics (NCFs) as a semi-flexible prismatic linkage and planning manipulations such that the array of linkages can conform to the surface geometry and path plan within allowable manufacturing tolerances. This has applications in structural composite components such as the current trailing edge prefabricated unidirectional components for wind turbine blades, and for future wind turbine blade designs including a curve-linear spar cap.