![[Translate to English:] Füße unter Wasser auf Sand](/fileadmin/user_upload/www.woelfel.de/slider/branchen/windenergie/Windenergie-SHM-Foundation-Slider.jpg "[Translate to English:] Foundation")
Comprehensive Structural Health Monitoring Solutions for Enhanced Offshore WTG Performance
The successful implementation of a Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system requires extensive expertise across multiple disciplines. Years of experience in hardware design and installation, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, data science, and software development form the foundation for developing optimal solutions. At Wölfel, we cover all phases of the SHM process—from sensor technology and hardware to software development and data analysis. This enables us to create intelligent monitoring systems that are essential for the safety and longevity of offshore wind farms.
Fulfilment of monitoring
requirements by authorities
Improved
asset management
Reduction of maintenance
work and costs
Enabling lifetime
extension
Optimization of the
wind park operation
Continuous validation against
design assumptions
Foundation Monitoring: Early Damage Detection and Optimized Lifetime Extension
The foundation is the load-bearing base of any offshore wind turbine and must withstand extreme environmental stresses such as wind, waves, and currents. Continuous monitoring of this critical component is essential to detect damage and prevent failures at an early stage. With SHM.Tower & Foundation, key parameters such as displacements, deformations, structural stresses, and frequencies are recorded in real time.
The focus is on the detailed analysis of maximum and fatigue loads, the structural condition, and the resulting remaining service life, as well as the wind and wave loads acting on the foundation. This enables the early detection of corrosion, material fatigue, and biofouling.
The collected data provides a solid basis for informed operation and maintenance (O&M) decisions, which not only reduce maintenance costs but also extend the service life of the turbine. At the same time, regulatory requirements—such as those of the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH)—are efficiently met.
Tower monitoring: Intelligent and certified algorithms for monitoring vibrations
In addition to the foundation, tower monitoring is another essential component of structural health monitoring. SHM.Tower & Foundation tracks the tower's vibration loads using integrated sensors and compares the current RMS values with standards such as ISO 10816-21 and VDI 3834. This ensures the condition of the wind turbine is always transparent, enabling proactive optimization of operating parameters.
If predefined thresholds are exceeded, warning alerts are triggered to identify potential overloads early. Furthermore, the system facilitates precise lifetime predictions by measuring actual loads within the tower and calculating the real-life consumption of each wind turbine, taking into account wind direction and extreme conditions. This approach enables a more accurate assessment and maximization of the turbine's continued operation potential.
LEARN MORE IN OUR BROCHURE
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The success of any SHM solution is firmly linked to having a reliable partner that understands the SHM process as a long-lasting commitment throughout the whole operational lifetime of the wind park.
SHM.Tower & Foundation is a monitoring solution for offshore wind turbines, combining sensitive sensors with smart algorithms to:
- Detect changes in the subsoil and foundation elements in real time,
- Analyze vibration behavior and identify resonance effects,
- Accurately calculate the remaining service life of the foundation and tower.
Please contact us personally
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We would be pleased to support you in solving your problem concerning "Wind turbine vibrations" and advise you on questions regarding our system and service offerings in the areas of structural health monitoring, vibration reduction, sound and noise as well as structural design.
Industrial engineering in dual study programme, Osnabrück University of Cooperative Education
Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.)
Let the wind do its job!
A family business of colleagues with such deep expertise that we can work at eye level with the leading international OEMs in the wind industry.
Very broad field of work with the opportunity to tackle and implement things.
Great colleagues with fun and joy.
Cool location in Hamburg :-)
Civil Engineering, TU Berlin
Dipl.-Ing.
WAB e.V.
"Paths are created by walking them." (Franz Kafka)
Working independently in a flexible, highly innovative company that makes a little contribution to the energy transition.
Sales Engineering and Product Management, Ruhr University Bochum
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
The collegial, friendly, and fair interactions, the unwavering helpfulness of all colleagues, and the genuine sense of working together towards a common goal. Additionally, the strong company know-how and immense variety naturally foster joy in the work.
Wirtschaftsingenieur an der FH Westküste in Heide
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
"The secret of success is to do the common thing uncommonly well." – John D. Rockefeller Jr.
Working in an innovative company that works together to develop solutions for a sustainable future. As a young professional, I particularly appreciate the friendly and helpful colleagues. Wölfel also offers a varied working environment in which exciting projects are designed and successfully implemented together with the customer.
Industrial engineering in dual study programme, Osnabrück University of Cooperative Education
Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.)
Let the wind do its job!
A family business of colleagues with such deep expertise that we can work at eye level with the leading international OEMs in the wind industry.
Very broad field of work with the opportunity to tackle and implement things.
Great colleagues with fun and joy.
Cool location in Hamburg :-)
Civil Engineering, TU Berlin
Dipl.-Ing.
WAB e.V.
"Paths are created by walking them." (Franz Kafka)
Working independently in a flexible, highly innovative company that makes a little contribution to the energy transition.
Sales Engineering and Product Management, Ruhr University Bochum
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
The collegial, friendly, and fair interactions, the unwavering helpfulness of all colleagues, and the genuine sense of working together towards a common goal. Additionally, the strong company know-how and immense variety naturally foster joy in the work.
Wirtschaftsingenieur an der FH Westküste in Heide
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
"The secret of success is to do the common thing uncommonly well." – John D. Rockefeller Jr.
Working in an innovative company that works together to develop solutions for a sustainable future. As a young professional, I particularly appreciate the friendly and helpful colleagues. Wölfel also offers a varied working environment in which exciting projects are designed and successfully implemented together with the customer.