4.6.2. Running BeamDyn

This section discusses how to obtain and execute BeamDyn from a personal computer. Both the stand-alone version and the FAST-coupled version of the software are considered.

4.6.2.1. Downloading the BeamDyn Software

There are two forms of the BeamDyn software to choose from: stand-alone and coupled to the FAST simulator. Although the user may not necessarily need both forms, he/she would likely need to be familiar with and run the stand-alone model if building a model of the blade from scratch. The stand-alone version is also helpful for model troubleshooting, even if the goal is to conduct aero-hydro-servo-elastic simulations of onshore/offshore wind turbines within FAST.

4.6.2.1.1. Stand-Alone BeamDyn Archive

Users can download the stand-alone BeamDyn archive from our Web server at https://nwtc.nrel.gov/BeamDyn. The file has a name similar to BD_v1.00.00a.exe, but may have a different version number. The user can then download the self-extracting archive (.exe) to expand the archive into a folder he/she specifies.

The archive contains the bin, CertTest, Compiling, Docs, and Source folders. The bin folder includes the main executable file, BeamDyn_Driver.exe, which is used to execute the stand-alone BeamDyn program. The CertTest folder contains a collection of sample BeamDyn input files and driver input files that can be used as templates for the user’s own models. This document may be found in the Docs folder. The Compiling folder contains files for compiling the stand-alone BeamDyn_v1.00.00.exe file with either Visual Studio or gFortran. The Fortran source code is located in the Source folder.

4.6.2.1.2. FAST Archive

Download the FAST archive, which includes BeamDyn, from our Web server at https://nwtc.nrel.gov/FAST8. The file has a name similar to FAST_v8.12.00.exe, but may have a different version number. Run the downloaded self-extracting archive (.exe) to expand the archive into a user-specified folder. The FAST executable file is located in the archive’s bin folder. An example model using the NREL 5-MW reference turbine is located in the CertTest folder.

4.6.2.2. Running BeamDyn

4.6.2.2.1. Running the Stand-Alone BeamDyn Program

The stand-alone BeamDyn program, BeamDyn_Driver.exe, simulates static and dynamic responses of the user’s input model, without coupling to FAST. Unlike the coupled version, the stand-alone software requires the use of a driver file in addition to the primary and blade BeamDyn input files. This driver file specifies inputs normally provided to BeamDyn by FAST, including motions of the blade root and externally applied loads. Both the BeamDyn summary file and the results output file are available when using the stand-alone BeamDyn (see Section Output Files for more information regarding the BeamDyn output files).

Run the stand-alone BeamDyn software from a DOS command prompt by typing, for example:

>BeamDyn_Driver.exe Dvr_5MW_Dynamic.inp

where, Dvr_5MW_Dynamic.inp is the name of the BeamDyn driver input file, as described in Section BeamDyn Driver Input File.

4.6.2.2.2. Running BeamDyn Coupled to FAST

Run the coupled FAST software from a DOS command prompt by typing, for example:

>FAST_Win32.exe Test26.fst

where Test26.fst is the name of the primary FAST input file. This input file has a feature switch to enable or disable the BeamDyn capabilities within FAST, and a corresponding reference to the BeamDyn input file. See the documentation supplied with FAST for further information.