With the foundations of wind turbines being below ground, they are often the most overlooked when it comes to maintenance. After all, a visual inspection is limited to the above ground parts of the foundation, or requires destructive testing. Data driven non-destructive testing mechanisms, already quite common in other industries, is not yet standard practice in the wind industry. Structural health monitoring of wind turbine generator foundations and support structures can provide valuable insights into the performance of what can’t be visually inspected.
The onshore wind industry has thrived since the development of the first commercial-scale wind farm. As the number and size of wind farms continue to grow, more resources are required to proactively manage operational assets.
