Achievement

Trainee Huiyi Zhang investigated a new image processing method to detect surface flaws on a wind turbine blade (WTB). This approach supplements
visual inspection to improve WTB reliability. It was found that detecting and quantifying cracks as small as hair thickness with computer-based visual inspection is feasible and the orientation of a crack was not sensitive to image processing so that the inspection camera does not need to set up at a specific angle to detect cracks. In addition, it was found that uneven background illumination was reduced using direct gray-scale image processing and opening images techniques. In addition, the accuracy of quantifying a crack was improved by reducing noise. This work reduces maintenance hours, increases labor safety, decreases production and service down times, and promotes high accuracy inspection. The work is summarized in the following working paper: H. Zhang and J. Jackman, "Image processing for surface flaw detection on wind turbine blades"