# Active structural control in OpenFAST **URL:** \ **Category:** Computer-Aided Engineering Software Tools\ **Created:** [March 26, 2024, 4:31pm UTC](https://forums.nlr.gov/t/active-structural-control-in-openfast/6735 "2024-03-26T16:31:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Riad.Elhamoud](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/nrel/user_avatar/forums.nlr.gov/riad.elhamoud/32/5481_2.png) [@Riad.Elhamoud](https://forums.nlr.gov/u/Riad.Elhamoud)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 4:31pm UTC](https://forums.nlr.gov/t/active-structural-control-in-openfast/6735/1 "2024-03-26T16:31:36Z")
Hello everyone, I am interested in applying structural control in FOWT. Indeed, a tuned mass damper will be attached to the structure and will be given a force in order to enhance its vibration mitigation capability. In order to achieve this in OpenFAST, there are two ways (I am using windows OS): 1- Modification of the source code in StrucCtrl.f90 2- Use of the EX\_Bladed\_Interface. As a first test, i modified the source code (option 1), then i recompile OpenFAST using Visual Studio 2019. To compile, I choose Release and x64 (my computer is x64 bit processor) and click on Build —\> Rebuild Solution (see figure). ![Capture](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/nrel/original/2X/f/fcc732779bb72cb55d11be444d3f7169291b167c.png) Compiling OpenFAST was successful ! No errors in the code and i run a simulation with the compiled openfast and i have seen the effect of the modification i have done, on the response. However, this method of working is not practical. My question is how to compile a dll of type bladed in visual studio. Steps ? manual ? Does anyone has worked on this before ? Thank you in advance. Best Regards, Riad ---
**Author:** ![Jason.Jonkman](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/nrel/user_avatar/forums.nlr.gov/jason.jonkman/32/3086_2.png) [@Jason.Jonkman](https://forums.nlr.gov/u/Jason.Jonkman)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 5:02pm UTC](https://forums.nlr.gov/t/active-structural-control-in-openfast/6735/2 "2024-03-26T17:02:42Z")
Dear @Riad.Elhamoud, A Visual Studio project file for compiling the Bladed-style DISCON controller is available in the OpenFAST repository–see: [openfast/vs-build/Discon at main · OpenFAST/openfast · GitHub](https://github.com/OpenFAST/openfast/tree/main/vs-build/Discon). Best regards, ---
**Author:** ![Riad.Elhamoud](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/nrel/user_avatar/forums.nlr.gov/riad.elhamoud/32/5481_2.png) [@Riad.Elhamoud](https://forums.nlr.gov/u/Riad.Elhamoud)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2024, 3:52pm UTC](https://forums.nlr.gov/t/active-structural-control-in-openfast/6735/3 "2024-08-20T15:52:22Z")
Dear @Jason.Jonkman, Thank you for guiding me. I successfully compiled the Discon.sln and obtained the well-known Discon.dll. However, i have some questions for you. 1- I was looking at ServoDyn input file of the 5 MW barge-type FOWT in the section named Bladed Interface. > In line 78, it is written: “DISCON.IN” DLL\_InFile - Name of input file sent to the DLL (-) [used only with Bladed Interface] However, i did not succeed to find this DISCON.IN. Am i wrong ? Should i find it in the same folder of ServoDyn input file ? 2- I used the .IN file obtained from this example: [ROSCO/Examples/23\_structural\_control.py at main · NREL/ROSCO · GitHub](https://github.com/NREL/ROSCO/blob/main/Examples/23_structural_control.py) I use it instead of the original DISCON.IN in ServoDyn of the 5 MW barge-type. Unfortunately, nothing happen. Is it normal ? I understand from reading the python in the 4th example in ROSCO repository: [ROSCO/Examples/04\_simple\_sim.py at main · NREL/ROSCO · GitHub](https://github.com/NREL/ROSCO/blob/main/Examples/04_simple_sim.py) that this example could generate .IN file from .yaml file. Is my understanding correct ? Can i use it to generate my own DISCON.IN and put it in the barge ServoDyn. 3- Could you please explain to me the relation between ROSCO and Discon.f90 ? Thank you a lot. Best Regards, Riad ---
**Author:** ![Jason.Jonkman](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/nrel/user_avatar/forums.nlr.gov/jason.jonkman/32/3086_2.png) [@Jason.Jonkman](https://forums.nlr.gov/u/Jason.Jonkman)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2024, 10:57pm UTC](https://forums.nlr.gov/t/active-structural-control-in-openfast/6735/4 "2024-08-20T22:57:51Z")
Dear @Riad.Elhamoud, The Bladed-style DISCON interface is a generic interface for coupling controllers with OpenFAST (and other aeroelastic codes such as Bladed). The original NREL 5-MW baseline turbine models used a simple baseline controller implemented in DISCON format. Since then, ROSCO has been developed as a much better baseline controller, which is also implemented in DISCON format. But the sample NREL 5-MW baseline turbine models still rely on the original baseline controller, not ROSCO. The original baseline controller does not make use of a _DISCON.IN_ input file (rather, the controller parameters are hard-coded within the DISCON source code, requiring a recompile of the DLL to change. The ROSCO controller makes use of controller parameters set within a _DISCON.IN_ input file. I hope that helps. Best regards,