Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.[0009] In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method for manufacturingan outer skin of a rotor blade. The method includes forming an outer skin layer of the outer skin from a first combination ofone or more resinsand/orfiber materials. The outer skin layer corresponds to an outer surface of the rotor blade.The methodalso includes forming an inner skin layer of the outer skin from a second combination of one or more resins and/orfiber materials. The inner skin layer corresponds to an inner surface of the rotor blade.More specifically, the first and second combinations of materials are different. Further, the method includes arranging the outer and inner skin layers together in a stacked configuration. In addition, the method includes joining the outer and inner skin layers together to form the outer skinof the rotor blade. [0010] In one embodiment, the method may further include tailoring the first
321009-1/GECW-3184combination based on pigment augmentation, ultraviolet (UV) protection, heat protection, erosion protection, and/or ice formation prevention. As such, the resin of the first and/or second combinationsmay include a thermoplastic material (such as an amorphous thermoplastic material) and/oran optional fiber material such as glass fibers, carbon fibers, polymer fibers, wood fibers, bamboo fibers, ceramic fibers, nanofibers, or metal fibers. [0011] In another embodiment, the method may include tailoring the second combination based on compatibility, bonding efficiency, welding efficiency, and/or structural performance (e.g. stiffness). Thus, the resin(s) of the second combination may include a thermoplastic material or a thermoset material. Further, the fiber materials of the second combination may include glass fibers, carbon fibers, polymer fibers, wood fibers, bamboo fibers, ceramic fibers, nanofibers, or metal fibers. [0012] In particular embodiments, the method may include forming one of the outer or inner skin layers of a thermoplastic material and forming the other of the outer or inner skin layers of a thermoset material. In such embodiments, the skin layer formed of the thermoplastic material may have a thickness capable of flexing to allow vacuum conforming of the skin layer to a mold during joining.[0013] In further embodiments, the method may include biasing an amount of thermoplastic material in one or both of the outer and innerskin layers so as to create resin-rich areas and resin-starved areas. [0014] In additional embodiments, the method may include placing at least one structural layer between the outer and inner skin layers. For example, in such embodiments, the structural layer(s) may include pultrusions, one or more metal layers, one or more glass layers, wood, foam, structural foam, and/or fiber materials. [0015] In several embodiments, the method may also include joining the first and second outer skin layers together via at least one of belt pressing,infusion, vacuum forming, or thermoforming.[0016] In another embodiment, the method may include incorporating one or more secondary componentsinto the outer skin layer and/or the inner skin layer before joining the outer and inner skin layers together. In such embodiments, the secondary component(s) may include one or more sensors, sensor wires, conductive elementsor materials, self-healing elements, heating elements, electromagnetic
321009-1/GECW-3185shielding, one or more channels, welding strips, and/or welding meshes. [0017] In still further embodiments, the step of incorporating the one or more secondary components into at least one of the outer skin layer, the inner skin layer, or the at least one structural layer may include 3-D printing the one or moresecondary components, manually placing the one or more secondary components, automatically placing the one or more secondary components via a robotic system, or infusing the one or more secondary components. In further embodiments, the method may includealigning the secondary component(s) via a light projection system (e.g. such as a laser system).In yet another embodiment, the method may include printing and/ordepositing at least one structural component onto the joined outer and/or inner skin layers. [0018] In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a rotor blade panel for a rotor blade of a wind turbine. The rotor blade panel includes an outer skin layer formed from a first combination of one or more resins and/orfiber materials, the outer skin layer forming an outer surface of the rotor blade panel. The rotor blade panel also includes an inner skin layer arranged adjacent to the outer skin layer. The inner skin layer is formed from a second combination of one or more resins and/orfiber materials. Further, the first and second combinations of materials are different so as to achieve desired characteristics of the inner and outer surfaces of the panel. Moreover, the outer and inner skin layers form at least a portion of an airfoil shape of the rotor blade panel. The rotor blade panel may also include any of the additional features as described herein. [0019] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood withreference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.A method for manufacturing an outer skinof a rotor blade, the method comprising:forming an outer skin layer of the outer skin from a first combination of at least one of one or more resins or fiber materials, the outer skin layer corresponding to an outer surface of the rotor blade;forming an inner skin layer of the outer skin from a second combination of at least one of one or more resins or fiber materials, the first and second combinations being different, the inner skin layer corresponding to an inner surface of the rotor blade; arranging the outer andinner skin layers together in a stacked configuration; and,joining the outer and inner skin layerstogetherto form the outer skin of the rotor blade. 2.The method of claim1, further comprising tailoring the first combination based on at least oneof pigment augmentation, ultraviolet (UV)protection, heatprotection, erosionprotection, or ice formation prevention, the first combination comprising a thermoplastic material. 3.The method of claim 1, whereinat least one oftheone or more resinsof the first and second combinations comprise an amorphousthermoplasticmaterial. 4.The method of claim 1, further comprising tailoring the second combination based on at least one of compatibility, bonding efficiency, welding efficiency, or structural performance. 5.The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more resins of the second combination comprise at least one of thermoplastic material or a thermoset material, and the fiber materials of thesecond combination comprise at least one of glass fibers, carbon fibers, polymer fibers, wood fibers, bamboo fibers, ceramic fibers, nanofibers, or metal fibers. 6.The method of claim 1, further comprising forming one of the outer or inner skin layers of a thermoplastic material and forming the other of the outer or inner skin layers of a thermoset material, wherein the skin layer formed of the thermoset material comprises a thickness capable of flexing to allow vacuum
321009-1/GECW-3183conforming of the skin layer to a mold during joining.7.The method of claim 1, further comprising biasing an amount of thermoplastic material in at least one of the outer skin layer or the inner skin layer to create resin-rich areas and/or resin-starved areas. 8.The method of claim 1, further comprising placing at least one structural layer between the outer and innerskin layers, wherein the at least one structural layer comprises at least one of pultrusions, one or more metal layers, one or more glass layers, wood, foam, structural foam, or fiber materials. 9.The method of claim 1, further comprising joining the first and second outer skin layers together via at least one of belt pressing, one or more adhesives, infusion, vacuum forming, or thermoforming. 10.The method of claim 1, further comprising incorporating one or more secondary components into at least one of the outer skin layer, the inner skin layer, or at least one structural layer arranged therebetween, the one or more secondary componentscomprising at least one of one or more sensors, sensor wires, conductive elementsor materials, self-healing elements, heating elements,electromagnetic shielding, tubing, one or more channels, welding strips, or welding meshes. 11.The method of claim 10, whereinincorporating the one or more secondary components into at least one of the outer skin layer, the inner skin layer, or the at least one structural layer further comprises at least one of 3-D printingthe one or more secondary components, manually placing the one or more secondary components, automatically placing the one or more secondary components via a robotic system, or infusing the one or more secondary components.12.The method of claim 11, further comprising aligning the one or more secondary componentsvia a light projection system. 13.The method of claim 1, further comprising printing and depositing at least one structural component onto the joined outer and/or inner skin layers.14.A rotor blade panel for a rotor blade of a wind turbine, the rotor blade panel comprising:an outer skin layer formed from a first combination of at least one of one or more resins orfiber materials, the outer skin layer forming an outer surface of the rotor blade panel; and,
321009-1/GECW-3184an inner skin layer arranged adjacent to the outer skin layer, the inner skin layer formed from a second combination of at least one of one or more resins orfiber materials, the first and second combinations being different, the outer and inner skin layers forming at least a portion of an airfoil shapeof the rotor blade panel. 15. The rotor blade panel of claim 14, wherein the rotor blade panel comprises at least one of a pressure side surface, a suction side surface, a trailing edge, a leading edge, or combinations thereof. 16.The rotor blade panel of claim 14, wherein the first combination of one is tailored based on at least one of pigment augmentation, ultraviolet (UV)protection, heatprotection, erosionprotection, or ice formation prevention, whereinat least one oftheone or more resins of the first and second combinations comprise athermoplasticmaterial.17.The rotor blade panel of claim 14, wherein the second combination of is tailored based on at least one ofcompatibility,bonding efficiency, welding efficiency, or structural performance. 18.The rotor blade panel of claim 14, further comprising at least one of resin-rich areas and/or resin-starved areas of thermoplastic material in at least one of the outer skin layer or the inner skin layer.19.The rotor blade panel of claim 14, further comprising at least one structural layer arranged between the outer and innerskin layers, the at least one structural layer comprisingat least one of pultrusions, one or more metal layers, one or more glass layers, or fiber materials. 20.The rotor blade panel of claim 19, further comprising one or more secondary components incorporated into at least one of the outer skin layer,the inner skin layer, or the at least one structural layer, the one or more secondary componentscomprising at least one of one or more sensors, sensor wires, conductive elementsor materials, self-healing elements, heating elements, electromagnetic shielding, tubing, one or more channels, welding strips, or welding meshes.
321009-1/GECW-3185METHODS FOR MANUFACTURINGAN OUTER SKIN OF A ROTOR BLADEABSTRACTA method for manufacturing an outer skin of a rotor blade includes forming an outer skin layer of the outer skin from a first combination of at least one of one or more resins orfiber materials. The method also includes forming an inner skin layer of the outer skin from a second combination of at least one of one or more resins orfiber materials. More specifically, the first and second combinations are different. Further, the method includes arranging the outer and inner skin layers together in a stacked configuration. In addition, the method includes joining the outer and inner skin layers together to form the outer skin.