A comprehensive review on contemporary materials used for blades of wind turbine

Abstract Many researchers have exploited the merits of advanced materials in fabrication of wind turbine blades. The required material properties like good fatigue strength to resist the cyclic load, less weight to decease gravitational forces, great strength to resist gravitational and wind forces, larger stiffness to provide stability are investigated and reviewed in this article. It is recognized that, the acceptable mechanical properties are obtained by reinforcing the composites with nano materials. The carbon nanotube fibers (CNT|s), an allotrope of carbon possess nanostructure of excellent aspect ratio which is higher than 1,000,000. Due to the distinctive properties of cylindrical carbon molecules, it is much preferred in wind turbine blades. CNTs are fabricated with various reinforcements for obtaining enhanced properties, which is reviewed in this work, and contrasted with traditional materials which are utilized in wind turbine blades. Hence, the main aim of this review is to suggest an appropriate material for wind turbine blade applications.