Wind turbine radar signature analysis in the near-field

This paper focuses on the theoretical analysis of wind turbine radar signatures in the near-field. This is a first step towards the development of a close-range radar system which can detect, and potentially classify wind turbine structural faults. A simplified theoretical model of the wind turbine radar signature under such conditions is presented, which relates radar signal parameters to actual wind turbine mechanical properties. The theoretical model is experimentally confirmed using scaled turbine models in an anechoic chamber.