Determination of mode I & II strain energy release rates in composite foam core sandwiches. An experimental study of the composite foam core interfacial fracture resistance

The use of composite materials is on the rise in different engineering fields. Following this trend the wind turbine industry has adopted composites as their primary material of choice. For wind turbine blades having large unsupported functional aerodynamic surfaces; the structural stiffness is very important. Stiffness is required to keep the deformations to a minimum under aerodynamic forces. The blade is thus stiffened using sandwich...