SMARTower

Wölfel aims to extend the application range of its SHM.Tower® and SHM.Foundation® products to include hybrid towers with dry joints and their foundations. Our load monitoring approach will be enhanced with virtual sensor technology, employing typical SHM algorithms such as novelty and change detection. When changes in modal data are detected, it is essential to assess whether this indicates damage or is due to variations in Environmental and Operational Conditions (EOCs).
To support this, FEM models of hybrid towers and foundations are developed and validated. These models are modified with typical damage scenarios based on tests conducted in geotechnical test pits and tension fields at the TTH. Parameter studies will be conducted to determine the Probability of Detection (PoD) for various damage types and sizes. Simulation results, including changes to EOCs, will be analyzed and classified, leading to conclusions about the remaining lifetime based on stiffness alterations and design data.

This sub-project focuses on developing a model-based structural health monitoring (SHM) system for the foundation and hybrid tower of wind turbines. Numerical models of the hybrid tower, foundation, and subsoil are created, optimized, and validated using data from field and large-scale experiments. The virtual sensor technology concept will be employed to develop methods for load monitoring and, subsequently, lifetime monitoring. Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations will be utilized to conduct parameter studies, determining damage detectability. The insights gained will eventually contribute to practical application recommendations.