MEMS inertial sensors for load monitoring of wind turbine blades

Aubryn M. Cooperman; Marcias J. Martinez

doi:10.1117/12.2082926

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27 March 2015 MEMS inertial sensors for load monitoring of wind turbine blades

Aubryn M. Cooperman, Marcias J. Martinez

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Proceedings Volume 9439, Smart Materials and Nondestructive Evaluation for Energy Systems 2015; 94390A (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2082926
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2015, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Structural load monitoring of wind turbines is becoming increasingly important due increasing turbine size and offshore deployment. Rotor blades are key components that can be monitored by continuously measuring their deflection and thereby determining strain and loads on the blades. In this paper, a method is investigated for monitoring blade deformation that utilizes micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) comprising triaxial accelerometers, magnetometers and gyroscopes. This approach is demonstrated using a cantilever beam instrumented with 5 MEMS and 4 strain gauges. The measured changes in angles obtained from the MEMS are used to determine a deformation surface which is used as an input to a finite element model in order to estimate the strain throughout the beam. The results are then verified by comparison with strain gauge measurements.

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Aubryn M. Cooperman and Marcias J. Martinez "MEMS inertial sensors for load monitoring of wind turbine blades", Proc. SPIE 9439, Smart Materials and Nondestructive Evaluation for Energy Systems 2015, 94390A (27 March 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2082926

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