03/26/2021
By Joanne Gagnon-Ketchen

Physics colloquium on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 from 4 to 5 p.m.

Location: Contact Joanne Gagnon-Ketchen for link

“Recent Advances in Wind Turbine Technologies and Sensing for Structural Health Monitoring,“ Christopher Niezrecki, Distinguished University Professor, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Abstract: A significant amount of interest exists in performing wind turbine structural health monitoring, characterization, and evaluation. The presentation highlights some recent advances in optical sensing, acoustic methods, infrared, UAV sensing, and radar technologies that can be applied to characterize wind turbine structural health, structural dynamics, damage, and embedded defects. Non-contacting, full-field surface dynamic measurements are presented that leverage three-dimensional (3D) digital image correlation (DIC), point tracking (PT), and motion magnification methods. The approaches are able to obtain full-field geometry data, in three dimensions. Information about the change in geometry of an object over time can be found by comparing a sequence of images and virtual strain gages (or position sensors) can be applied over the entire visible surface of an object of interest. Non-contact structural dynamic information can be extracted. Results from structural interrogation of acoustic monitoring, infrared sensing, and radar sensing are also presented on a variety of test objects. Several examples of various sensing technologies are presented on wind turbine rotors and blades. Additionally, some recent advances in wind energy research that originated within the National Science Foundation-Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Wind Energy Science, Technology and Research (WindSTAR) will be presented.

Bio: Christopher Niezrecki is a Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He is currently the co-director of the Structural Dynamics and Acoustic Systems Laboratory and leads the Center for Wind Energy at UMass Lowell. Niezrecki is also the director of the NSF-Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Wind Energy Science Technology and Research (WindSTAR). He has been directly involved in mechanical design, smart structures, noise, and vibration control research for over 27 years, with more than 150 publications. Areas of current research include renewable energy systems, wind turbine dynamics, monitoring, and inspection, structural dynamic and acoustic systems, smart structures, signal processing, structural health monitoring, and smart materials. Funding for his research ($20M+) has been provided through grants from numerous federal and state agencies as well as several industry sponsors.

Research Interests: renewable energy systems, wind turbine dynamics, monitoring, and inspection, structural dynamic and acoustic systems, smart structures, signal processing, structural health monitoring, and smart materials.