Development of an anisotropic co-rotational beam model including variable cross-section

The aim of this article is to expand the general approach of the flexible beam model to consider tapered geometry and anisotropic properties by updating the cross-sectional stiffness matrix. The advantage of this approach is that continuously variable cross-section, as well as irregular axes on the cross-sections, are considered simultaneously by the co-rotational method. Anisotropic and isotropic cantilevered beam cases are simulated. A static force or moment is applied as the external load. NREL 5 MW wind turbine blade is analyzed as a practical example. The results are compared against the existing literature and ABAQUS model, and they show excellent agreement.