Turbine blade and method of fabricating the same

A blade segment comprising:

• first and second shells joined together, a base region, and at least one joint region including a mating face, each of the first and second shells further comprising:
• an outer skin,
• a base spar cap attached to an inner surface of the outer skin in the base region, and
• a joint spar cap attached to the inner surface of the outer skin in the joint region and respectively adjacent to at least a portion of a corresponding base spar cap,
• wherein the joint spar cap includes holes in the mating face of the joint region for insertion of fasteners.

A method of fabricating a blade segment comprising first and second shells, comprising:

• providing first and second outer skins of the first and second shells;
• providing joint spar caps respectively on inner surfaces of the first and second outer skins in joint regions of the first and second outer skins;
• positioning base spar caps respectively on each inner surface of the first and second outer skins in base regions of the first and second outer skins and adjacent to the joint spar caps;
• positioning at least one shear web between the pair of base spar caps and between the pair of joint spar caps;
• attaching the first and second shells;
• and
• providing holes in the joint spar caps in mating faces of the joint regions for insertion of fasteners.