Experience has shown that the structural dynamic behavior of a wind turbine system, good or bad, must always be dealt with by the design and operations teams. Through the use of known analysis methods, the effects of physical changes, controls, and subsystem features on the dynamic behavior of a new or existing wind turbine can be understood. When this is accomplished, the structural dynamic behavior of any given system can be improved. Here the term “improve” means to increase fatigue life and reduce cost without sacrificing energy capture.

A necessary tool for accomplishing these improvements is a computer simulation of the dynamic system, with which to study and understand its dynamic behavior and determine how the system should be modified to change that behavior in favorable directions. Adequate simulation models are complete as to all the subsystem features and dimensional properties that affect system dynamics in any significant way. They can and must permit designers to study and improve the system behavior as though they were running the real turbine. Successful system designs evolve as they are modified in simulated form.