Wind turbine rotor blade monitoring using digital image correlation

Assessment on a scaled model

authored by

Jan Winstroth, Joerg R. Seume

Abstract

Optical full-field measurement methods such as Digital Image Correlation (DIC) provide a new opportunity for measuring deformations and vibrations with high spatial and temporal resolution. However, application to full scale wind turbines is not trivial. In order to assess DIC performance with regard to wind turbines, a series of experiments is conducted and evaluated on a scaled model test bench. The experiments are divided into three groups: steady-state, dynamic without rotation, and dynamic with rotation. Each group adds another degree of complexity, making the analysis with DIC progressively more challenging. The results from the optical system are benchmarked against results from an analog dial gauge, a laser sensor, and a strain gauge. The purpose of these experiments is to demonstrate feasibility, assess accuracy, gain experience, and to identify possible perturbations before applying the proposed technique on a full scale wind turbine. The results demonstrate that it is possible to track the three-dimensional deformation of the rotor, with high accuracy, over several rotations.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Turbomachinery and Fluid Dynamics

Type

Paper

Publication date

2014

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Mechanical Engineering

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy