Deformation Monitoring of Wind Turbine Blades Based on Millimeter-Wave Radar

In this paper, we propose a method for measuring wind turbine blade deformation using millimeter-wave (mmWave) radar. The radar is securely mounted on the nacelle without disrupting the turbine's operation, and its beam direction is adjusted to cover the blade's tail. Leveraging millimeter-wave radar's ranging capability and high-resolution angle measurement via Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), we successfully capture distance and angle information of the blades. Using this data, we determine the relative coordinates of the blade's tail and compare it with the original state, allowing us to measure wind turbine blade deformation. Results indicate that deformation is more pronounced at the bottom of the blade, decreasing as it extends upward, aligning with logical expectations. This validates the effectiveness and feasibility of our measurement method.