Online diagnosis of the structural behavior of windmills by Bragg gratings and piezoelectrics

Sebastian Diaz-Carrillo; Carlos Pardo; J. Alfredo Guemes

doi:10.1117/12.351582

9 July 1999 Online diagnosis of the structural behavior of windmills by Bragg gratings and piezoelectrics

Sebastian Diaz-Carrillo, Carlos Pardo, J. Alfredo Guemes

Proceedings Volume 3674, Smart Structures and Materials 1999: Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.351582
Event: 1999 Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials, 1999, Newport Beach, CA, United States

Abstract

Windmills are large composite structures, usually located at difficult-to-access sites, bearing strong dynamic loads in a harsh environment. In-service inspection involves dismounting the blades, a very costly process. Instead of inspecting the windmills regularly, they are usually overdesigned. Furthermore, the design of a windmill is based on estimated wind conditions, while the real wind is seldom measured. The main inconvenience for it are the characteristics of the conventional equipment needed to carry out the measurements. The substitution of traditional sensors for Bragg gratings and piezoelectronics to measure the strain field and vibrational frequencies adds the advantages of a smaller size, no drift, no EMI and the possibility of embedding them while manufacturing, so the windmill is fully equipped when installed. Long-term measurements are possible to check both the in-service conditions and the degradation of the structure. Two possibilities were tested: embedding of the sensors while manufacturing with low disturbance of the process and surface-bonding of the sensors. Windmill qualification test were carried out to check the survivability of the Bragg gratings and the piezoelectric sensors under extreme environment are presently running. Results are hopeful. The next step could be a permanent connection via modem to a remote controller that can use the acquired data to map the wind conditions and/or the structural health.

Citation Download Citation

Sebastian Diaz-Carrillo, Carlos Pardo, and J. Alfredo Guemes "Online diagnosis of the structural behavior of windmills by Bragg gratings and piezoelectrics", Proc. SPIE 3674, Smart Structures and Materials 1999: Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies, (9 July 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.351582

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available