Abstract: Provided is an apparatus that is able to take preform and create a swept rotor blade in a continuous manner. The apparatus has a feeder frame across which the preform moves in a first direction. A main frame moves with respect to the feeder frame and moves the preform in a second direction that is different than the first direction. In order to avoid wrinkles forming in the preform during the creation of the swept rotor blade a tension component may be applied to a feed angle in order to form the shear angle for deformation.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade having a structural member is provided including: a first stringer; a second stringer; a rigid tie pivotally secured to the first stringer and pivotally secured to the second stringer; and a tension tie secured to the first stringer and the second stringer and arranged to experience tension during increasing lateral displacement between the first stringer and the second stringer as the wind turbine blade bends in a first direction. Unlike a conventional wind turbine blade truss, the structural member provides nonlinear resistance to bending of the blade.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade (60) damped by viscoelastic material (54, 54A-F) sandwiched between stiffer load-bearing sublayers (52A, 52B, 56A, 56B) in portions of the blade effective to damp oscillations (38) of the blade. The viscoelastic material may be located in one or more of: a forward portion (54A) of the shell, an aft portion (54D) of the shell, pressure and suction side end caps (54B) of an internal spar, internal webbing walls (54C, 54E), and a trailing edge core (54F).

Abstract: A method including: curing a casting (18) of a wind turbine blade in a mold (12); and initiating and then stopping a rotation of the mold during the step of curing. By repositioning the mold, a rate of deformation for any given location can be reduced, and previously formed deformations can be decreased in size. In addition, repositioning the mold may be useful to help distribute a curable material (42), such as epoxy resin, throughout a cavity (20) that defines the blade.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade (60) damped by viscoelastic material (54, 54A-F) sandwiched between stiffer load-bearing sublayers (52A, 52B, 56A, 56B) in portions of the blade effective to damp oscillations (38) of the blade The viscoelastic material may be located in one or more of a forward portion (54A) of the shell, an aft portion (54D) of the shell, pressure and suction side end caps (54B) of an internal spar, internal webbing walls (54C, 54E), and a trailing edge core (54F).

Abstract: A ridge (28) mounted or defined along a trailing edge (22) of an airfoil (20) for noise reduction. Sides (32, 34) of the ridge converge from respective suction and pressure sides (46, 48) of the trailing edge to a peak (30) of the ridge pointing aft. The sides of the ridge may be concave. The ridge may be hollow (42) or have a core (43) of a sound-absorbing material. The sides of the ridge may be perforated (44A, 44B) for pressure equalization across the ridge. The ridge may be covered with bristles (56) or be defined by the tips (58) of bristles (56A, 56B) of varying length. The peak of the ridge and/or at least one corner (64, 66) of the ridge and/or of the trailing edge (46, 48) may be serrated.