We introduced a new method to monitor wind turbine gearboxes using distributed fiber-optic technology. By attaching a single optical fiber to the gearbox, we tracked strain changes at high resolution, capturing gear movement, torque, and temperature in real time. This study demonstrated the link between torque and strain, enabling early fault detection. The approach offers a cost-effective way to improve gearbox reliability and reduce downtime, supporting more sustainable wind energy operations.

This study explores how changing wind turbine blade length affects the aerodynamics behind the turbine. Using high-fidelity simulations, we found that varying blade lengths accelerates the leapfrogging event but does not improve wake recovery directly. In contrast, turbulence plays a bigger role, as the wake breakdown process is more influenced by it over the studied rotor asymmetries. These findings provide insights for designing more efficient wind turbine rotors.