Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine is disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade assembly further includes a noise reducer mounted to a surface of the rotor blade, the noise reducer comprising a plurality of noise reduction features. The rotor blade assembly further includes a bond layer disposed between the noise reducer and the rotor blade for bonding the noise reducer to the rotor blade, the bond layer having a shear modulus approximately equal to or less than 500 megapascals.

Abstract: A composition includes a first cylcoolefin substituted with at least one epoxy group and an aromatic amine. The composition is capable of bonding to a filler having a corresponding binding site. The composition is compatible with a metathesis catalyst capable of catalyzing a ring-opening metathesis polymerization reaction when contacted with the first cycloolefin. An associated method is also provided.

Abstract: A composition includes a first cylcoolefin substituted with at least one epoxy group and an aromatic amine. The composition is capable of bonding to a filler having a corresponding binding site. The composition is compatible with a metathesis catalyst capable of catalyzing a ring-opening metathesis polymerization reaction when contacted with the first cycloolefin. An associated method is also provided.

Abstract: A method of assembling a wind turbine blade comprises providing a first blade segment comprising at least two first spar cap segments; providing a second blade segment comprising at least two second spar cap segments; inserting the second blade segment into the first blade segment wherein a spar cap cavity is formed between each set of corresponding first and second spar cap segments; injecting an adhesive into the spar cap cavities to bond the blade segments together, wherein a scarf joint is formed between each set of corresponding first and second spar cap segments.

Abstract: An article includes a reaction product of a filler having binding sites, a coupling agent composition including an aromatic amine and a first cycloolefin substituted with at least one epoxy group, a polymer precursor including a second cycloolefin, and a metathesis catalyst capable of catalyzing a ring-opening metathesis polymerization reaction when contacted to the first cycloolefin or the second cycloolefin. The coupling agent composition is capable of bonding to the filler and the coupling agent composition is compatible with a metathesis catalyst. An associated method is also provided.

Abstract: A composition includes a coupling agent composition and a polymer precursor. The coupling agent composition includes an aromatic amine and a first cycloolefin substituted with at least one epoxy group. The polymer precursor includes a second cycloolefin and an epoxy compound. The coupling agent composition is capable of bonding to a filler having a corresponding binding site and the coupling agent composition is compatible with a metathesis catalyst capable of catalyzing a ring-opening metathesis polymerization reaction when contacted to the first cycloolefin or the second cycloolefin. An associated method is also provided.

Abstract: A composition includes a polymer precursor and a coupling agent composition capable of bonding to a filler having a corresponding binding site. The polymer precursor includes cycloolefin and the coupling agent has at least one functional group that is an epoxy, an amine, an imine, a thiol, a carboxylic acid, a cyanato, a carboxylic acid anhydride, a cyano group, or a silane group. A method to make the composition is also provided.

Abstract: A turbine blade includes at least two blade segments. Each blade segment includes first and second shells joined together, a base region, at least one joint region including a mating face. Each of the first and second shells includes an outer skin, a base spar cap attached to an inner surface of the outer skin in the base region, a joint spar cap attached to the inner surface of the outer skin in the joint region and adjacent to at least a portion of the base spar cap. The joint spar cap includes holes in the mating face of the joint region. The turbine blade further includes fasteners within the holes for securing the at least two blade segments together.

Abstract: A system including a dual cure composite structure is disclosed. The system also includes a first layer comprising a resin having a first and a second functional group. The system further includes a second layer comprising the resin having the first and the second functional group. The system also includes a third layer comprising the resin having the first and the second functional group. The system further includes a first covalent bond across an interface of the first and the second layer and a second covalent bond across another interface of the second and the third layer. The system further includes more than two layers comprising the resin having the first and second functional group. A method of manufacturing a system including a dual cure composite structure is also disclosed. The method includes providing a first layer comprising a resin having a first functional group and a second functional group. The method also includes applying a first curing source to partially cure the first layer.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a cured composite composition comprising (a) a fiber component; and (b) an organic composition. The organic composition comprises a cured epoxy continuous phase and a nanoparticulate thermoplastic block copolymeric discontinuous phase. The nanoparticulate thermoplastic block copolymeric discontinuous phase has a domain size distribution in a range from about 1 nanometer to about 500 nanometers, and the discontinuous phase is substantially uniformly distributed throughout the cured composite composition. Articles and method of making the cured composite compositions are also provided.

Abstract: A multi-segment wind turbine blade comprises at least two blade segments. A first spar cap segment is attached to a first blade segment and a second spar cap segment is attached to a second blade segment. The first and second spar cap segments are configured to form a scarf joint. First and second spar cap brackets are attached in locations of the first and second spar cap segments, respectively, selected to facilitate alignment of the first and second spar cap segments at the scarf joint. At a field site, the first and second spar cap segments are bonded after fastening the first and second spar cap brackets.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a high voltage-high frequency electrical energy transformation apparatus comprising a frequency inverter capable of converting 60 Hz electrical energy into 40-100 KHz electrical energy; and a voltage transformer. The voltage transformer comprises a transformer housing; at least one soft magnetic core; a low voltage primary winding and a high voltage secondary winding; and a solid insulating material comprising polydicyclopentadiene. The solid insulating material is in contact with the high voltage secondary winding.

Abstract: A turbine blade includes at least two blade segments. Each blade segment includes first and second shells joined together, a base region, at least one joint region including a mating face. Each of the first and second shells includes an outer skin, a base spar cap attached to an inner surface of the outer skin in the base region, a joint spar cap attached to the inner surface of the outer skin in the joint region and adjacent to at least a portion of the base spar cap. The joint spar cap includes holes in the mating face of the joint region. The turbine blade further includes fasteners within the holes for securing the at least two blade segments together.

Abstract: A method of assembling a wind turbine blade comprises providing a first blade segment comprising at least two first spar cap segments; providing a second blade segment comprising at least two second spar cap segments; inserting the second blade segment into the first blade segment wherein a spar cap cavity is formed between each set of corresponding first and second spar cap segments; injecting an adhesive into the spar cap cavities to bond the blade segments together, wherein a scarf joint is formed between each set of corresponding first and second spar cap segments.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multi-resin composite article is provided. The method comprises providing at least one fiber preform in a mold; injecting a plurality of resins into the at least one fiber preform at a plurality of locations on the at least one fiber preform; and forming at least one transition region along a mutual contact surface between the resins. Each of the at least one transition regions is defined by a gradual transition in composition from one of the resins to another of the resins. A multi-resin composite article is also provided. The article comprises: at least one fiber preform; a plurality of resins, wherein the at least one fiber preform is infused with the resins; and at least one transition region extending along a mutual contact surface between respective ones of the resins. A system for manufacturing such a multi-resin composite article is also provided.

Abstract: A method includes contacting a treatment composition including a permanganic acid to a surface of a first substrate to form a treated substrate surface, wherein the first substrate comprises a polyarylenesulfide. The method further includes adhesively bonding the treated substrate surface to a second substrate surface.

Abstract: A multi-segment wind turbine blade comprises at least two blade segments. A first spar cap segment is attached to a first blade segment and a second spar cap segment is attached to a second blade segment. The first and second spar cap segments are configured to form a scarf joint. First and second spar cap brackets are attached in locations of the first and second spar cap segments, respectively, selected to facilitate alignment of the first and second spar cap segments at the scarf joint. At a field site, the first and second spar cap segments are bonded after fastening the first and second spar cap brackets.

Abstract: A multi segment wind turbine blade comprises at least two blade segments. A first blade segment comprises an outer skin, a bulkhead, and first alignment brackets removably coupled to the outer skin of the first blade segment. A first portion of a flange of the bulkhead is bonded to the first blade segment and a second portion of the flange of the bulkhead projects out from the first blade segment. A second blade segment comprises an outer skin and second alignment brackets removably coupled to the outer skin of the first blade segment. The first and second alignment brackets are alignable upon the outer side of the second blade segment being inserted over the second portion of the flange of the bulkhead.

Abstract: A composition includes a polymer precursor and a coupling agent composition capable of bonding to a filler having a corresponding binding site. The polymer precursor includes cycloolefin and the coupling agent has at least one functional group that is an epoxy, an amine, an imine, a thiol, a carboxylic acid, a cyanato, a carboxylic acid anhydride, a cyano group, or a silane group. A method to make the composition is also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of bonding a sensor to a surface comprising the steps of applying a thermoplastic film to a first surface of the sensor. The first surface of the sensor is contacted with a surface of an object to be monitored, wherein the composition effectively bonds the sensor to the object surface at a temperature up to approximately 250° C. The invention also provides a method of bonding a sensor to a surface comprising the steps of applying a thermoplastic film to a surface area of an object to be monitored. The first surface of a sensor is contacted with the object surface area, wherein the film effectively bonds the sensor to the object surface at a temperature up to approximately 250° C.