OpenFAST - The input file was not found

Wind & Water Computer-Aided Engineering Software Tools
1

Hi,

I have been using OpenFAST versions 2.6.0 & 3.0.0 lately, but unfortunately ran into trouble when trying to visualize results. As you can see from the images attached below, the spar support structure that should appear beneath the 5MW FOWT tower isn’t shown.
I understand from reading posts on Github that this is just a current limitation of the latest versions of OpenFAST (from v2.6.0 onwards).
github.com/OpenFAST/openfast/issues/776

As a result I’ve been trying to use version 2.5.0 instead, but it seems to have difficulty reading the ElastoDyn.dat file.
The location of the file is correct, so I’m not sure why this is. Does anyone have any ideas on how to overcome this problem?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

See text from command line below for context:

OpenFAST

Copyright (C) 2021 National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Copyright (C) 2021 Envision Energy USA LTD

This program is licensed under Apache License Version 2.0 and comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.
See the “LICENSE” file distributed with this software for details.

OpenFAST-Unversioned from 718d46f707d78e85edf1b49d3b1a63e8e23e1aae
Compile Info:

  • Compiler: Intel(R) Fortran Compiler 2021
  • Architecture: 64 bit
  • Precision: single
  • Date: Jun 28 2021
  • Time: 14:28:41
    Execution Info:
  • Date: 06/30/2021
  • Time: 13:51:37+0100

OpenFAST input file heading:
FAST Certification Test #24: NREL 5.0 MW Baseline Wind Turbine with OC3 Hywind Configuration,
for use in offshore analysis

[b]Running ElastoDyn.

FAST_InitializeAll:ED_Init:ED_ReadInput:ReadPrimaryFile:OpenFInpFile:The input file,
“.\NRELOffshrBsline5MW_OC3Hywind_ElastoDyn.dat”, was not found.[/b]

FAST encountered an error during module initialization.
Simulation error level: FATAL ERROR

Aborting OpenFAST.

FOWT 2.PNG
FOWT 2.PNG1901×1010 131 KB

FOWT 1.PNG
FOWT 1.PNG1907×982 122 KB

2

Hi Stephen,

I agree that the inability to visualize the substructure is a limitation of OpenFAST v2.6 and v3.0 per the issue you identified.

Regarding your error, I would guess the path to the directory or the file name is incorrect. Where is the ElastoDyn input file relative to the OpenFAST primary input file and how is this specified in input EDFile in the OpenFAST primary input file?

Best regards,

3

Hi Jason,

Thank you for your rapid response!

I believe both the file path and file names are correct.
The ElastoDyn.dat file and OpenFAST primary input file (.fst) are both in the same location (See screenshot attached below).

Directory.PNG
Directory.PNG768×469 32.9 KB

I have never changed the ‘INPUT FILES’ section of the .fst file (lines 21 to 32) so I believe it should be specified correctly. I have attached this part of the .fst file below for your information.

InputFiles.PNG
InputFiles.PNG1277×232 16.7 KB

So in summary, I think everything is in order ?
(I hope I am not missing something very obvious).

4

Dear Stephen,

Could one of the O’s be a zero (0) instead? Or could there be a space in the file name? Sharing both the 5MW_OC3Spar_DLL_WTurb_WavesIrr.fst and NRELOffshreBsline5MW_OC3Hywind_ElastoDyn.dat file may help me identify the problem.

Best regards,

5

Hi Jason,

No spaces or zeros, as far as I can see.

See link below to download both the .fst and .dat file (I couldn’t attach them with this message for some reason).
And thanks for your help thus far.

drive.google.com/drive/folders/ … sp=sharing

6

Hi Stephen,

I ran your model and don’t receive this error (instead I receive an error about not finding the ElastoDyn blade file because you did not share that).

I did have to rename the ElastoDyn primary input file though, because the OpenFAST primary input file defines the name as “NRELOffshrBsline5MW_OC3Hywind_ElastoDyn.dat”, but the file on your Google drive is named “NRELOF~2.DAT”. Could that be the problem?

Are you able to run other OpenFAST models, e.g., directly from the v2.5 r-test?

Best regards,

7

Hi Jason,

Thanks for your reply.

That is very strange. The “NRELOffshrBsline5MW_OC3Hywind_ElastoDyn.dat” file appears to change name to “NRELOF~2.DAT” when I share it on google drive, or open it with Visual Studio Code.
Likewise, I am now having the same issue reading the “NRELOffshrBsline5MW_OC3Hywind_ElastoDyn_Tower.dat” file, which when opened with Visual Studio Code appears to be named “NRELOF~3.DAT” (See screenshot below).

Image1.PNG
Image1.PNG1662×225 25.8 KB

Anyhow, by following your advice and changing the file names within the .fst file to the above unusual alternative names, the original issue with finding these files is solved.

However, I am now receiving an error relating to not finding the AeroDyn_blade.dat file, which is clearly in the correct directory (5MW_Baseline folder) and called up correctly in the .fst file. In this case, there is no problem with file names and changing them doesn’t solve the issue. So I’m quite confused as to what is causing the issue this time around. Below, I have pasted the outputted text from command line for further information.

With regards to trying other OpenFAST models, I have now tried both ‘5MW_OC3Spar_DLL_WTurb_WavesIrr’ and
‘5MW_OC3Mnpl_DLL_WTurb_WavesIrr’ models and have ran into the same problem with each.

Could I ask you to share the v2.5.0 r-test folder with me ?
(Perhaps the r-test files I’ve been using were downloaded from github after the release of v2.6.0 - would this mean they are not compatible with previous versions, like v2.5.0? )

Thanks again for all your help so far, it is very much appreciated.
Hopefully we can get to the bottom of this soon.

Kind regards,
Stephen Lynch.

OpenFAST

Copyright (C) 2021 National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Copyright (C) 2021 Envision Energy USA LTD

This program is licensed under Apache License Version 2.0 and comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY.
See the “LICENSE” file distributed with this software for details.

OpenFAST-Unversioned from 718d46f707d78e85edf1b49d3b1a63e8e23e1aae
Compile Info:

  • Compiler: Intel(R) Fortran Compiler 2021
  • Architecture: 64 bit
  • Precision: single
  • Date: Jun 28 2021
  • Time: 14:28:41
    Execution Info:
  • Date: 07/01/2021
  • Time: 12:56:26+0100

OpenFAST input file heading:
FAST Certification Test #19: NREL 5.0 MW Baseline Wind Turbine with OC3 Monopile RF
Configuration, for use in offshore analysis

Running ElastoDyn.
Nodal outputs section of ElastoDyn input file not found or improperly formatted.
Running AeroDyn.
Nodal output section of AeroDyn input file not found or improperly formatted.

FAST_InitializeAll:AD_Init:ReadInputFiles:Blade1:ReadBladeInputs:OpenFInpFile:The input file,
“.../5MW_Baseline/NRELOffshrBsline5MW_AeroDyn_blade.dat”, was not found.

FAST encountered an error during module initialization.
Simulation error level: FATAL ERROR

Aborting OpenFAST.

8

Hi Stephen,

Very strange indeed; I have not heard of this problem before and don’t know the solution.

The r-test for OpenFAST v2.5 is available from here: github.com/OpenFAST/r-test/releases/tag/v2.5.0.

Best regards,

9

Hi Jason,

Thanks for sharing that with me.
Unfortunately I’ve had the same difficulty with the r-test files for OpenFAST v2.5. This time, it is the name of the .fst file itself that has apparnetly changed, as well as certain folders in the file path (see screenshot below). Seeing as this hasn’t been encountered before, perhaps there is just something up with my computer!

Image2.PNG
Image2.PNG1676×516 53.9 KB

Anyway, I have decided to progress with my work regardless. I will continue using v3.0.0 and just work around the difficulties with visualizing results.

Thanks for all your help.

Kind regards,
Stephen

10

Hi Stephen,

OK, definitely sounds like a problem with your computer. Hopefully not a sign of a virus!

Good luck,