This special session is dedicated to OMA of wind turbines, addressing a critical area for SHM and performance evaluation of modern wind energy systems. OMA provides a non-intrusive methodology for assessing the dynamic behavior of wind turbines by analyzing vibrations induced by ambient excitations. As wind turbines continue to increase in scale and structural complexity while operating in demanding environmental conditions, robust OMA techniques are essential for accurate characterization of dynamic properties and long-term structural health assessment. This session welcomes contributions on advanced output-only identification methods, ambient vibration analysis, and operational modal parameter extraction techniques applied to wind turbine systems.

Objectives and Significance

This session highlights the strategic benefits of OMA for wind turbine applications, including:

• SHM for real-time assessments without operational interruption
• Early identification of structural anomalies, excessive vibrations, foundation issues, and component degradation
• Model validation through field data acquisition to refine numerical models and improve design accuracy
• Enhanced understanding of localized damage effects on modal characteristics and structural integrity

Addressed topics and challenges

Participants will examine the technical challenges specific to wind turbine OMA implementation, including:

• Modal parameter identification of wind turbine components with specialized techniques for both rotating and non-rotating element
• OMA methodologies and algorithms for addressing periodic behavior from rotor rotation
• Structural health monitoring and damage detection applications
• Environmental and operational effects on modal characteristics
• Model updating and digital twin development
• Advanced sensor systems and signal processing

Track chairs

Silvia Vettori, Siemens Digital Industries Software

Filipe Magalhães, University of Porto

Eleni Chatzi, ETH Zürich

Emilio Di Lorenzo, Siemens Digital Industries Software