AnalySwift, LLC, a provider of efficient high-fidelity modeling software for composites and other advanced materials, says that EJProjects has licensed its VABS software for use in simulating composite rotor blades. Based in the Netherlands, EJ-Projects is an engineering consultancy with specialties in modeling and simulation, loads, aeroelasticity and structural engineering.

The image demonstrates VABS ability to reduce a 3D model to a 1D + 2D model, without a loss of accuracy compared to detailed 3D FEA. VABS is a beam model which can achieve 3D FEA fidelity at the efficiency of simple beam elements.
The company’s primary focus is on aerospace, turbo-machinery, and wind power technologies, and EJ-Projects has licensed VABS for composite rotor blade analysis projects, including an off-shore wind turbine project.
“We have had a relationship with EJ-Projects for some time and have been impressed with the work they have done, particularly in composite rotor blade analysis,” said Allan Wood, president and CEO of AnalySwift. “VABS provides a uniquely rigorous solution as a general-purpose cross-sectional analysis tool for computing beam sectional properties and recovering 3D fields of slender composite structures. This includes composite helicopter and wind turbine rotor blades, as well as other slender composite parts, such as landing gear, propellers, and high-aspect ratio wings.”
The time savings in model preparing and computing is several orders of magnitude. For example, hours of 3D FEA require only seconds on VABS. As long as beam elements are used in the design (such as multibody dynamics simulation or aeroelastic simulation), VABS will compute the best stiffness constant (such as torsional stiffness) for the beam element. To deal with a composite wing or rotor, many 3D FEA programs rely on smearing many layers into one thick layer, which introduces significant errors and defeats the purpose of being high fidelity. However, VABS can compute ply-level stress field without such approximations. It achieves the accuracy as if 3D FEA models all the ply level details.
“EJ-Projects uses VABS together with GEBT, an open source companion code to VABS, in design analysis focused on rotor blade dynamics,” said Eric Jansen of EJ-Projects. “Together with industry standard integrated load analysis software, EJ-Projects also employs VABS for design and certification of offshore wind turbines.”
“VABS is capable of rigorously decoupling an original 3D slender solid with complex cross-sections into a simple engineering beam model,” according to Dr. Wenbin Yu, CTO of AnalySwift. “With continuous development funded by the US Army spanning over 20 years for performance and robustness, VABS’ accuracy has been extensively verified by its developers and users.”
EJ-Projects B.V. provides high-end technology solutions and advanced structural design analysis services. The project experience includes long-terms collaborations with established OEMS and technology startup companies in product development programs for onshore and offshore wind turbines, industrial compressors and gas turbines, rotorcraft, regional jets, turbo fan and turbo prop engines and landing gears.
Regarding AnalySwift, it develops composite analysis software, which enables an unprecedented combination of efficiency and accuracy, including multiphysics structural and micromechanics modeling. Drawing on cutting edge university technology, AnalySwift’s powerful solutions provide customers a competitive advantage through drastic reductions in engineering time, virtual testing earlier in the design process, and handling of more complex composite structures. Learn more at analyswift.com.
Filed Under: Turbines