NWTC Design Codes

AeroDyn is a aerodynamics software library for use by designers of horizontal-axis wind turbines.  It is written to be interfaced with a number of dynamics analysis software packages (such as FAST, ADAMS, SIMPACK, and FEDEM) for aero-elastic analysis of wind turbine models.

The aerodynamics model in AeroDyn is a detailed analysis that includes blade-element/momentum theory (with modifications to improve accuracy in yawed flow), dynamic stall, and an optional dynamic inflow theory.

Preprocessors named FoilCheck and AirfoilPrep are available to create the input files for the aerodynamics tables in AeroDyn.  TurbSim is also available to create full-field turbulence for use in AeroDyn.

This program and downloadable user's guide assume the user is an experienced wind turbine aerodynamics and dynamics analyst.  Questions about this software should be directed to Windward Engineering.

AeroDyn, as used by FAST and ADAMS, was evaluated by Germanischer Lloyd WindEnergie and found suitable for "the calculation of onshore wind turbine loads for design and certification." Electronic versions of the issued certificate and report are available for viewing.

You may download the following files from our server:

• AeroDyn Change Log (v13.00.01a-bjj, 37 KB, 17-February-2012)

  This is a list of changes made to the code.  Look at this text file to see if we've made worthwhile changes since you received your previous version of AeroDyn.

• AeroDyn User's Guide (v12.5, 431 KB, 24-December-2002)

  This is the AeroDyn User's Guide.  It explains what AeroDyn does and how you can use it.  It is also included in the archive.

• AeroDyn Theory Manual (Future version TBD, 1.21 MB, 6-December-2005)

  This is the AeroDyn Theory Manual.  It describes the algorithms used in the code.

  Please note: The algorithms described in the manual are what we intend to have in the routines for a future release.

• AeroDyn Archive (EXE 1.2 MB) (v13.00.01a-bjj, 1.2 MB, 21-February-2012)

  This is a self-extracting archive of AeroDyn for PCs. It includes the AeroDyn source code, the change log, the user's guide, and sample input files. It was developed using NWTC Subroutine Library v1.04.00.

• Addendum to the AeroDyn User's Guide for v13.00.00

  As we have not had the time to update the AeroDyn User's Guide, we have temporarily left AeroDyn v13.00.01a-bjj as an "alpha" version.  We have created a document to guide you through the major changes in the updated code and to document the updated AeroDyn interface.  We encourage you to read it.

If you want to refer to the AeroDyn website in a report, here is a reference you can use:

NWTC Design Codes (AeroDyn by Dr. David J. Laino).  http://wind.nrel.gov/designcodes/simulators/aerodyn/.  Last modified 21-February-2012; accessed 21-February-2012.

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