TYCOR W5 is the latest addition to Webcore's GL-certified TYCOR W family of core materials for utility wind turbine blades. Webcore core technology combines fibreglass and closed-cell foam in an engineered architecture.
TYCOR W5 offers high transverse shear strength for local areas of high stress such as thin, highly-loaded shear webs and shells.
“The addition of TYCOR W5 to our product line-up for wind turbine blades enables design engineers to optimise sandwich designs for both existing and new blades,” says Doug Ventura, CEO for WebCore Technologies, which is located in Miamisburg, Ohio, USA..
“As wind turbines continue to increase in size and output, engineers are being tasked to keep costs and weight down while developing longer, higher-performance blades able to withstand difficult operating conditions. TYCOR W5 addresses these needs.”
Webcore reports that TYCOR W5 can be specified quickly as an alternative to balsa because its balanced shear modulus allows for a direct substitution of the wood product. In addition, TYCOR W5 offers blade manufacturers improved quality, consistent infused density, reduced resin absorption and better dimensional stability.
TYCORE W5 is suited to the vacuum infusion process. It is reported to provide 105 MPa minimum transverse shear modulus in all directions, yet unlike balsa, offers reduced cost and weight.
TYCOR W5 is available in 12-78 mm thicknesses. Sheet dimensions can be varied slightly to increase core kitting yield by as much as 10% compared to fixed-size cores.
