Propeller Blade Fatigue Test

In fatigue life verification of propeller blades, conventional strain gauge testing is often limited by difficulties in mounting on curved surfaces, complex wiring, and signal degradation caused by long-term vibration, making comprehensive and stable strain measurement difficult. The project team therefore adopted virtual strain gauges, achieving simultaneous multi-point strain monitoring and life assessment on the blade surface without changing the test setup.

The virtual strain gauge is a software function based on image analysis. By computing image changes during deformation, it allows measurement regions to be defined at any location on the specimen surface and delivers real-time strain and displacement data without bonding physical sensors or wiring. According to the structural features of the blade, this mode allows multiple measurement points to be freely deployed, covering key areas along the span, chord, and root, and accurately identifying strain concentrations and fatigue-critical locations. With virtual strain gauges, engineers can grasp the fatigue characteristics of the blade more intuitively and comprehensively, achieving more efficient structural verification and life prediction and supporting product design optimization and quality improvement.