Welcome to Bladed Next Gen
On this website, you will find help to get started with the Bladed Next Gen (Bladed NG) demonstrator.
News
(August 2023): Bladed Next Gen 0.4.0 is now available, including an upgrader toolset to convert Bladed 4.14 inputs into JSON files.
Bladed Next Gen is a new version of the latest Bladed 4.14 wind turbine design software under development by DNV. This is a version of Bladed that aims to modernise the user interface and user experience while maintaining the same core functionalities and results quality as the original software. To support this, a new set of user interface tools is being developed in parallel to the main Bladed 4.14 development.
The software contained in this webpage is a pre-release demonstrator version with limited functionality, aimed solely to be used under guidance from DNV for the purpose of user research into the Bladed Next Gen approach.
Warning
The Bladed Next Gen demonstrator should not be used for any design or certification activities.
Why Bladed Next Gen?
Our customer research identified four key areas of focus for the Bladed Next Gen development:
Core value
Our users tell us that the engineering functionality is the most important part of Bladed. Therefore, Bladed Next Gen puts the engineering calculation at the centre, and software frameworks and automation tools are being built around the main calculation executable. With Bladed Next Gen, engineering developments can be realized more quickly without the constraints of the latest Bladed 4.14 GUI. Additionally, the new input data model structure will provide greater flexibility in the engineering calculation, such as direct control of the turbine multi-body model.
Technology
Modern coding technologies are needed to future-proof the latest Bladed 4.14. This will make it easier for customers to develop and integrate with their own tools, as well as help us maintain the code and deliver customer improvements and bug fixes more quickly.
Automation
The new software suite focuses on enabling automation and customer-tailored workflows by changing how users interface with bladed.exe (The Bladed core solver). It also includes more modern coding stacks, allowing for the modularization of features and processes to meet the requirements of turbine simulation and design activities. The modern coding technologies will also make it easier to maintain the code and quickly deliver improvements and bug fixes to users.
Integration
Data management and manipulation needs are evolving in a world that relies heavily on effective data structures. It is essential to have the flexibility to combine and manage inputs and outputs, as well as a well-structured file system, to ensure quality performance throughout the design and production process.
What changed?
The biggest change you will notice with Bladed Next Gen is the way in which you interface with the latest Bladed 4.14.
New APIs to create, edit and modify inputs
Initially, the graphical interface will be removed and replaced by a JSON input file, along with Python, C# (coming soon) and C++ APIs. The latest Bladed 4.14 data model will be updated in tandem with the generation of the respective APIs. This ensures that the data structure is consistent across all three supported languages.
JSON Data Schema
Bladed Next Gen will have a single JSON schema with a distinct input format. An Upgrader function will be available to convert the latest Bladed 4.14 project files to the new JSON format.
A unique data model, based on JSON Schema, enables us to create a single, consistent input format. JSON is versatile in combining and referencing files, either clustering data into a single file with multiple modular options, or dispersing the data across multiple files referenced from a central input. APIs for different coding languages can be quickly built and automatically updated when changes occur in the Bladed Next Gen features' inputs.
The JSON Schema will also enable self-documentation and validation of inputs as they are modified and before they are utilized.
Improvements to the blade coordinate system
Some improvements have been made to the definition of blade coordinates. Read about them in the documentation. The transformation to the new blade coordinate system will be handled by the latest Bladed 4.14 simulation Upgrader.