Damage detection in a laboratory wind turbine blade using techniques of ultrasonic NDT and SHM

Abstract This paper presents a case study in the use of ultrasonic NDE/SHM techniques for detecting and locating damage in a real (but small) wind turbine blade. Two techniques are considered: (1) non‐linear acoustics, and (2) guided‐wave “pitch‐catch” SHM. While the non‐linear acoustics approach proved disappointingly insensitive to damage induced experimentally in the blade, the guided‐wave approach not only detected the damage but also proved capable of locating it, using a “network of novelty detectors” methodology. A first, slightly ill‐conceived, programme of guided‐wave tests actually provided valuable insight into attenuation of waves in the structure of interest and supported the idea that actuator‐sensor networks of a feasible density could be used for wind turbine blade SHM.