Fatigue analysis codes for WECS components

This Manuscript discusses two numerical techniques, the LIFE and the LIFE2 codes, that analyze the fatigue life of WECS components. The LIFE code is a PC-compatible Basic code that analyzes the fatigue life of a VAWT component. The LIFE2 code is a PC-compatible Fortran code that relaxes the rather restrictive assumptions of the LIFE code and permits the analysis of the fatigue life of all WECS components. Also, the modular format of the LIFE2 code permits the code to be revised, with minimal effort, to include additional analysis while maintaining its integrity. To illustrate the use of the codes, an example problem is presented. 10 refs.