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Simulation RPM Prescribe Type
Quote from happyapplebear on 16. May 2025, 02:29Hi,
I’m trying to simulate a small wind turbine and have polar definitions and a blade design. I can’t figure out how to change the RPM prescribe type to free rotation, like how it is on example turbine setups. I’m trying to simulate the turbine’s start-up and would like to see how RPM fluctuates instead of having constant RPM. I have read the section in the documentation but it’s vague when it mentions I need a simulation input file or a structural definition. Can somebody please help me figure this out.
Thanks.
Hi,
I’m trying to simulate a small wind turbine and have polar definitions and a blade design. I can’t figure out how to change the RPM prescribe type to free rotation, like how it is on example turbine setups. I’m trying to simulate the turbine’s start-up and would like to see how RPM fluctuates instead of having constant RPM. I have read the section in the documentation but it’s vague when it mentions I need a simulation input file or a structural definition. Can somebody please help me figure this out.
Thanks.

Quote from David on 16. May 2025, 09:37Hi,
to simulate a rotor with free rotation, a structural model of the turbine is essential. This model defines the rotor and hub inertia, which are necessary to compute the rotor’s acceleration based on the aerodynamic torque acting at the hub.
In the absence of a structural model, simulations can only be conducted at prescribed rotational speeds. In such cases, a “simulation input file” can be used to define the rotational speed as a function of time. However, simulating free rotation, where the rotor speed evolves dynamically in response to aerodynamic forces, is only possible when a structural model is included.
BR,
David
Hi,
to simulate a rotor with free rotation, a structural model of the turbine is essential. This model defines the rotor and hub inertia, which are necessary to compute the rotor’s acceleration based on the aerodynamic torque acting at the hub.
In the absence of a structural model, simulations can only be conducted at prescribed rotational speeds. In such cases, a “simulation input file” can be used to define the rotational speed as a function of time. However, simulating free rotation, where the rotor speed evolves dynamically in response to aerodynamic forces, is only possible when a structural model is included.
BR,
David
Quote from happyapplebear on 17. May 2025, 05:42Oh, that makes sense now.
How do I import a structural model? Is it in the Turbine Definition tab, marked, “Main structural input file”? What type of file format should this be in?
Thank you.
Oh, that makes sense now.
How do I import a structural model? Is it in the Turbine Definition tab, marked, “Main structural input file”? What type of file format should this be in?
Thank you.
Quote from happyapplebear on 17. May 2025, 22:24Nvm, I entered stuff into an example file on the theory guide, but when it asks in the blade parameters for the file where the blade design is, how do I use a generated blade from the HAWT blade design module? How do I create tower parameters and it’s str file?
Thanks.
Nvm, I entered stuff into an example file on the theory guide, but when it asks in the blade parameters for the file where the blade design is, how do I use a generated blade from the HAWT blade design module? How do I create tower parameters and it’s str file?
Thanks.

Quote from David on 19. May 2025, 13:43Hello,
please check out the documentation on the structural modeling of wind turbines in QBlade:
https://docs.qblade.org/src/user/turbine/structure.html#structural-modeling
For the generation of the cross sectiopnal data tables for towers, blades etc. see:
https://qblade.org/qblade-forum/topic/how-to-update-blade-structure-data-table/
BR,
David
Hello,
please check out the documentation on the structural modeling of wind turbines in QBlade:
https://docs.qblade.org/src/user/turbine/structure.html#structural-modeling
For the generation of the cross sectiopnal data tables for towers, blades etc. see:
https://qblade.org/qblade-forum/topic/how-to-update-blade-structure-data-table/
BR,
David
