An approach for the use of Wigner-Ville Distribution (WVD), a time frequency analysis method, for the detection of winding deformation during short circuit test of a transformer is presented. The method is validated through experiments conducted on a specially designed 6.6 kV voltage transformer. The results of time frequency analysis approach using WVD and time scale analysis using Wavelet Transform (WT) are compared to the results obtained with the frequency response analysis method to identify an optimal signal analysis tool possessing improved sensitivity for the detection of winding deformation in transformers during short circuit tests. ©2008 IEEE.