Composite materials for wind energy applications: micromechanical modeling and future directions

The strength and reliability of wind turbine blades depend on the properties, mechanical behavior and strengths of the material components (glass or carbon fibers and polymer matrix), and the interaction between them under loading. In this paper, ideas, methods and concepts of micromechanical modelling of materials for wind turbine blades are briefly reviewed. Using the variety of the modeling methods reviewed here, one can predict the strength, stiffness and lifetime of the materials, optimize their microstructures with view on the better usability for wind turbines, or compare the applicability of different groups of the materials to the application in wind turbine blades. Some examples of the analysis of the microstructural effects on the strength and fatigue life of composites are shown.