A turbine blade and a method of manufacturing the wind turbine, wherein the wind turbine blade comprises a composite structure and a surrounding layer. The composite structure comprises a stack of pultruded elements where an infusion-promoting layer is arranged between adjacent pairs of pultruded elements (18). The infusion-promoting layers have a higher permeability than the surrounding layer so that the resin flows at a higher speed within the stacked structure than in the surrounding layer.

A turbine blade and a method of manufacturing the wind turbine, wherein the wind turbine blade comprises a composite structure and a surrounding layer. The composite structure comprises a stack of pultruded elements where an infusion-promoting layer is arranged between adjacent pairs of pultruded elements (18). The infusion-promoting layers have a higher permeability than the surrounding layer so that the resin flows at a higher speed within the stacked structure than in the surrounding layer.

A method for producing a three-dimensional preform from an intermediate preform blank (30, 70), which contain undulations (31) in a portion thereof. The preform blank (30, 79) may be formed on a tool surface (60) containing undulations (61) using an automated placement method such as Automated Tape Laying (ATL) or Automated Fiber Placement (AFP), in which narrow-width strips of material are dispensed side-by-side. Various preform blanks (30, 70) and molding tools (10, 50, 80) have been designed to produce shaped preforms having generally C-shape and Z-shape cross-sections.

The invention relates to a method for affixing an end terminal to a solid carbon rod (1). The invention further relates to a splitting device applicable for carrying out the method according to the invention. The method is characterized in that it comprises at least the following steps: a) providing a solid carbon rod (1) cut to an appropriate length, b) splitting the carbon rod (1) into several smaller cable portions (3) along a predetermined split length (L1) in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the carbon rod (1), substantially without damaging the individual carbon fibres, where the cross-sectional size of the smaller cable portions (3) obtained through splitting is smaller than 5 mm.sup.2, preferably smaller than 2 mm.sup.2, more preferably smaller than 1 mm.sup.2. c) spacing apart the split cable portions (3) from each other in the radial direction of the cross section of the carbon rod (1), and forming—and, optionally, temporarily, fixing —a preferably conically shaped end portion (2) from the cable portions (3) thus obtained, d) affixing an end terminal (4, 5, 6) to the branched end portion. The device is characterized in that it comprises a centring clamp unit (9), a movable blade holder (7), and one or more blades (8) retained in the movable blade holder (7), where the movable blade holder (7) is situated opposite the centring clamp unit (9) and is configured such that it is slidable along the longitudinal axis of a carbon rod (1) retained in the centring clamp unit (9), and is rotatable about the axis of the retained carbon rod (1).

The invention relates to a method for affixing an end terminal to a solid carbon rod (1). The invention further relates to a splitting device applicable for carrying out the method according to the invention. The method is characterized in that it comprises at least the following steps: a) providing a solid carbon rod (1) cut to an appropriate length, b) splitting the carbon rod (1) into several smaller cable portions (3) along a predetermined split length (L1) in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the carbon rod (1), substantially without damaging the individual carbon fibres, where the cross-sectional size of the smaller cable portions (3) obtained through splitting is smaller than 5 mm.sup.2, preferably smaller than 2 mm.sup.2, more preferably smaller than 1 mm.sup.2. c) spacing apart the split cable portions (3) from each other in the radial direction of the cross section of the carbon rod (1), and forming—and, optionally, temporarily, fixing —a preferably conically shaped end portion (2) from the cable portions (3) thus obtained, d) affixing an end terminal (4, 5, 6) to the branched end portion. The device is characterized in that it comprises a centring clamp unit (9), a movable blade holder (7), and one or more blades (8) retained in the movable blade holder (7), where the movable blade holder (7) is situated opposite the centring clamp unit (9) and is configured such that it is slidable along the longitudinal axis of a carbon rod (1) retained in the centring clamp unit (9), and is rotatable about the axis of the retained carbon rod (1).

Methods and apparatus are provided for the production of thermoplastic composite sheets whose fibers are other than perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sheet and which are capable of being slit into sheets, strips and/or tapes of custom widths.

A rib-stiffened composite structure includes a composite face sheet having a continuous reinforcing fiber in a polymer matrix. A polymer core is in a grid pattern disposed on the composite face sheet, the grid pattern having a first series of paths crossing over a second series of paths. Material voids are formed in the spaces between the series of paths. A composite rib-cap is disposed upon an upper surface of the polymer core. The composite rib-cap includes a continuous reinforcing fiber in a polymer matrix. The fibers of the continuous reinforcing fiber of the polymer matrix of the composite rib cap are oriented in a direction along the first and second series of paths of the grid pattern of the extruded polymer core.

Provided is a method for fabrication of a profile for a spar cap for a wind turbine blade, wherein the profile is fabricated in a pultruding process using one or more strands and/or layers of unidirectional fibres or rovings of unidirectional fibres arranged along a longitudinal direction of the profile and a tool for moulding of the fibres, wherein one or more additional fibres or rovings of additional fibres are introduced in the pultruding process prior to the moulding, wherein the additional fibres are arranged under an angle to the unidirectional fibres, and/or wherein one or more surficial fibres or rovings of surficial fibres are introduced in the pultruding process after the moulding, wherein the surficial fibres are arranged on the outer surface of the moulded profile.

The invention relates to a process for the production of a tape comprising a plurality of sheathed continuous multifilament strands, wherein each of the sheathed continuous multifilament strands comprises a core that extends in the longitudinal direction and a polymer sheath which intimately surrounds said core, wherein each of the cores comprises an impregnated continuous multifilament strand comprising at least one continuous glass multifilament strand, wherein the at least one continuous glass multifilament strand is impregnated with an impregnating agent, wherein the process comprises the steps of: d) providing the plurality of sheathed continuous multifilament strands, e) placing the plurality of sheathed continuous multifilament strands in parallel alignment in the longitudinal direction, f) grouping the plurality of sheathed continuous multifilament strands, wherein steps e) and f) are performed such that the sheathed continuous multifilament strand can be consolidated and g) subsequently consolidating the plurality of sheathed continuous multifilament strands to form the tape, wherein the sheathed continuous multifilament strands are prepared by the sequential steps of a) unwinding from a package the continuous glass multifilament strands, b) applying the impregnating agent to the continuous glass multifilament strands to form the impregnated continuous multifilament strands and c) applying the sheath of the thermoplastic polymer composition around the impregnated continuous multifilament strands to form the sheathed continuous multifilament strands, wherein the sheathed continuous multifilament strands of step d) are the sheathed continuous multifilament strands obtained by step c) and wherein the sheathed continuous multifilament strands of step d) are subjected to step e) without cutting.

The invention relates to a process for the production of a tape comprising a plurality of sheathed continuous multifilament strands, wherein each of the sheathed continuous multifilament strands comprises a core that extends in the longitudinal direction and a polymer sheath which intimately surrounds said core, wherein each of the cores comprises an impregnated continuous multifilament strand comprising at least one continuous glass multifilament strand, wherein the at least one continuous glass multifilament strand is impregnated with an impregnating agent, wherein the process comprises the steps of: d) providing the plurality of sheathed continuous multifilament strands, e) placing the plurality of sheathed continuous multifilament strands in parallel alignment in the longitudinal direction, f) grouping the plurality of sheathed continuous multifilament strands, wherein steps e) and f) are performed such that the sheathed continuous multifilament strand can be consolidated and g) subsequently consolidating the plurality of sheathed continuous multifilament strands to form the tape, wherein the sheathed continuous multifilament strands are prepared by the sequential steps of a) unwinding from a package the continuous glass multifilament strands, b) applying the impregnating agent to the continuous glass multifilament strands to form the impregnated continuous multifilament strands and c) applying the sheath of the thermoplastic polymer composition around the impregnated continuous multifilament strands to form the sheathed continuous multifilament strands, wherein the sheathed continuous multifilament strands of step d) are the sheathed continuous multifilament strands obtained by step c) and wherein the sheathed continuous multifilament strands of step d) are subjected to step e) without cutting.