Highlights include…
Wind Turbine Modelling
•New flexible blade model, accounting for blade deformations, rotor inertia, and low speed shaft torque
•Aerodynamic and control variables now available in Summary Postprocessing
•Updated version of OpenFAST (3.5.3) now coupled with Flexcom
•Printout of aerodynamic forces in OUT file for detailed scrutiny
•New example added to the Wind Energy section: Example L5 – Stiesdal Tetraspar
Zero-Gap Guides
•Stiffness based contact model, contact zone input (also added for flat guides), advanced friction model, node rotation lock and display diameter. All available via *GUIDE.
Postprocessing
•Nodal displacements in a local axis system
•Summary postprocessing with smart units on plots
Miscellaneous
•Variable time step, as a function of time
•Support for Shear7 v4.12
•New Fortran compiler
•New example: Example J5 – Tower Crane & Pulleys
See the Flexcom 2025.1 Newsletter for full details on all these new features.