Wind/Energy
Wind blades: Progress and challenges
Despite double-digit wind energy industry growth, turbine blade manufacturers and materials suppliers acknowledge a pressing need to reduce costs and innovate.
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A different type of blade?
GE Wind Energy and public/private partners investigate the use of resin-impregnated architectural fabrics as a substitute for conventional composite laminates in the construction of wind blade skins.
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The positive consequences of regulating styrene
In 1859, Thomas Austin imported 24 wild rabbits from England and released them into the Victoria, Australia, countryside to provide animals for sport hunting.
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Tailored Fiber Placement: Besting metal in volume production
Affordable automated production of highly optimized preforms and parts.
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Paris Air Show 2013: A century of aircraft progress
Torrential rains couldn’t dampen the spirit of innovation or stop the flood of business aerospace announcements.
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HPC’s 20th Anniversary: The senior technical editor looks back
In celebration of HPC's 20th Anniversary, HPC's senior technical editor Sara Black recalls the early days at HPC and the changes that she's seen.
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Wanted: Big thinkers and risk takers
Quickstep Composites (Dayton, Ohio) president and independent consultant Dale Brosius challenges the auto industry to think big and take risks in composites R&D.
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Additives and modifiers: Matrix optimization
New and reengineered modifiers for thermosets and thermoplastics target previously elusive goals in composites processing and performance.
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Modular design eases big wind blade build
First segmented composite blade increases power generation, eases installation and keeps weight and costs in check.
Read MoreBig blades, big innovations
In the process of designing its G128 wind turbine blade and the INNOBLADE segmented blade technology that simplifies its transport (see “Modular design eases big wind blade build,” under “Editor’s Picks,” at top right), Gamesa (Vizcaya, Spain) has introduced several innovative auxiliary technologies that reduce cost and simplify processing, particularly in the context of blade delivery and installation.
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