In this paper, 3D reconstruction of the leading edge of wind turbine
blades from images, also known as photogrammetry, is investigated. The
technique was applied to a decommissioned blade with an eroded leading
edge, with images captured by a smartphone. The reconstructed 3D surface
was accurate, when compared to the captured images, despite the small
number of images used. A solid model was then created and imported into
a finite element modelling software for rain-droplet impact simulations.
Photogrammetry is relatively cheap, when compared to other surface
scanning techniques, and provides means of monitoring erosion damage
when combined with drone imaging. Further investigations of the
parameters which control the accuracy of the reconstructed surface must
be performed, to fully explore the potential of photogrammetry for 3D
reconstruction of leading edge erosion damage.