Publications

Optical Detection of Crack Separation in Si PV Modules

Braid, Jennifer L.; Stein, Joshua S.; Robinson, Charles D.; Harwood, Duncan H.

Studying the mechanical behavior of silicon cell fractures is critical for understanding changes in PV module performance. Traditional methods of detecting cell cracks, e.g., electroluminescence (EL) imaging, utilize electrical changes and defects associated with cell fracture. Therefore, these methods reveal crack locations, but do not operate at the time or length scales required to accurately measure other physical properties of cracks, such as separation width and behavior under dynamic loads.