• Journal of Wind Energy
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.83-90
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the inter-laminar fracture toughness characteristics of CFRP pultrusion spar cap materials reinforced with non-woven glass fabric. Test specimens were fabricated by the infusion technique. A non-woven glass fabric and artificial defects were embedded on the middle surface between two pultruded CFRP panels. Double cantilever beam (DCB) and End Notched Flexure (ENF) tests were performed according to ASTM standards. Fracture toughness and crack propagation characteristics were evaluated with load-displacement curves and delamination resistance curves (R-Curve). The fracture toughness results were calculated by compliance calibration (CC) method. The initiation and propagation values of Mode-I critical strain energy release rate value G_Ic were 1.357 kJ/m2 and 1.397 kJ/m2, respectively, and Mode-II critical strain energy release rate values G_IIc were 4.053 kJ/m2 for non-precracked test and 4.547 kJ/m2 for precracked test. It was found that the fracture toughness properties of the CFRP pultrusion spar-cap are influenced by the interface between the layers of CFRP and glass fiber non-woven.