Enhanced through-thickness resin infusion for a wind turbine composite laminate

A method for producing a composite laminate component for a wind turbine, comprising;

• assembling a laminated structure comprising at least two reinforced layers and a plurality of interleaf layers positioned adjacent to one of the at least two reinforced layers, wherein the plurality of interleaf layers have a higher intrinsic permeability with respect to a resin than the at least two reinforced layers, the at least two reinforced layers and the plurality of interleaf layers defining a through-thickness of the laminated structure;
• placing the laminated structure into a mold;
• triggering a first resin feed line attached to a first interleaf layer of the plurality of interleaf layers so as to establish a resin flow front within the first interleaf layer;
• following a time delay, independently triggering a second resin feed line attached to a second interleaf layer of the plurality of interleaf layers so as to establish a resin flow front within the second interleaf layer, wherein:
• the second interleaf layer is vertically disposed between the first interleaf layer and mold,
• transferring the resin into each layer of the plurality of interleaf layers establishes a pressure gradient in a resin flow across the through-thickness of the laminated structure, the resin flow comprising the resin flow front in each of the plurality of interleaf layers,
• sequentially triggering the first resin feed line and the second resin feed line resets the pressure gradient to a maximum value resulting in a fill time reduction for the laminated structure relative to a baseline fill time, and
• each of the resin flow fronts is in a different vertical plane, the resin flow infusing the through-thickness of the laminated structure;
• and
• curing the transferred resin in the laminated structure to form a composite laminate component comprising the at least two reinforced layers, the plurality of interleaf layers, and cured resin.