A Compact Laser Shearography System for On-Site Robotic Inspection of Wind Turbine Blades

Shearography is an optical technique in the field of non-destructive evaluation (NDE) various materials. Its main advantages are that it non-contact type and can cover a large area single inspection. As result, although has been widely acknowledged as effective particularly for NDE composite materials to detect subsurface defects such delamination, disbond, cracks impact damages, use shearography on-site inspection wind turbine blades (WTBs) not reported. This due causing structural vibration WTB. The solution this paper make sit on WTB during when parked, so relative motion between minimized within tolerance system. ultimate goal enable robot assisted system inspect on-site. presents research work new design integration with robotic climber approach tested evaluated experimental settings, comparative assessment other techniques carried out. results demonstrate potential benefits suitability WTBs.