DeepCData Composite Material Database

Mechanical Properties of Composite Materials for Tidal Turbine Foils. This database presents mechanical properties of composite materials tested at Composites Testing Laboratory (CTL Tástáil Teo.). This database was created as part of the DeepCData project funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) (Award number: 223/RDD/1021). One of the aims of the DeepCData project was to address the use of industrial-grade composite materials in tidal turbine systems. In this database, novel composite material systems were selected to add to the publicly available material data in databases such as the SNL/MSU/DOE Composite Material Fatigue Database. This database contains the material testing results from the DeepCData Project. Through an iterative process of assessing how various composite materials and manufacturing processes can achieve the functional requirements for a tidal energy foil, four candidate material options were shortlisted for testing. The selection process for materials sought to strike a balance between pragmatism and a consideration for sustainability. This has resulted in the selection of materials with natural fibres, novel recyclability and low-cost/high production characteristics which may provide a competitive edge and a sustainable future when applied to tidal turbine systems. These materials were selected with the tidal energy industry in mind but could be equally suited for use in other industries.