Damage Identification of Wind Turbine Blades Using Piezoelectric Transducers

Journal Article · Tue Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 2013 · Shock and Vibration

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/430854· OSTI ID:1275962

Choi, Seong-Won ^[1]; Farinholt, Kevin M. ^[2]; Taylor, Stuart G. ^[2]; Light-Marquez, Abraham ^[2]; Park, Gyuhae ^[3]

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1. School of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Republic of Korea
2. Engineering Institute, MS T001, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
3. School of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757, Republic of Korea, Engineering Institute, MS T001, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA

This paper presents the experimental results of active-sensing structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques, which utilize piezoelectric transducers as sensors and actuators, for determining the structural integrity of wind turbine blades. Specifically, Lamb wave propagations and frequency response functions at high frequency ranges are used to estimate the condition of wind turbine blades. For experiments, a 1 m section of a CX-100 blade is used. The goal of this study is to assess and compare the performance of each method in identifying incipient damage with a consideration given to field deployability. Overall, these methods yielded a sufficient damage detection capability to warrant further investigation. This paper also summarizes the SHM results of a full-scale fatigue test of a 9 m CX-100 blade using piezoelectric active sensors. This paper outlines considerations needed to design such SHM systems, experimental procedures and results, and additional issues that can be used as guidelines for future investigations.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 1275962
• Journal Information: Shock and Vibration, Journal Name: Shock and Vibration Vol. 2014; ISSN 1070-9622
• Publisher: Hindawi Publishing Corporation
• Country of Publication: Egypt
• Language: English