Active sensors for load and damage monitoring in wind turbine blade: A hybrid manufacturing technique

Abstract

Wind blades are growing in size to harness more energy and are being placed in harsh areas both onshore and offshore. Larger wind blades imply higher loads on the turbine and drivetrain. Monitoring and controlling these loads become critical for safe and profitable operations. Currently fiber optic based sensors are the most popular choice for load monitoring but require expensive and bulky interrogation equipment. The newly developed triboluminescent (TL)-based C-shaped ITOFPress sensor has the ability to monitor dynamic continuous applied loads consistently over cycles. In addition, another TL-based sensor called ITOF sensor has the ability to monitor damage in composite. These sensors do not require any external power source at the sensing location nor for transmitting signals. C-shaped ITOFPress sensor is installed in a hybrid composite blade with the purpose of load sensing, while ITOF sensor is embedded into the composite to monitor damage due to impacts. An experimental setup is designed and established in order to perform both dynamic mechanical loading and impact tests. This paper presents the results of both tests on a lab-sized hybrid composite blade to evaluate the damage and load sensing performance of the novel TL-based sensors.

Publication Title

9th European Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring, EWSHM 2018

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