Abstract: A wind turbine including an article, article, and method of forming an article for distributing stress are disclosed. The article includes a flange for securing an upper tower section and a lower tower section of a wind turbine and includes a first arm extending in a first direction, a second arm extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, a relief region disposed between the first arm and the second arm, the relief region maintaining or improving the distribution of stress on wind turbine components selected from the group consisting of the first arm of the flange, the second arm of the flange, a fastener of the flange, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A wind turbine including an article, article, and method of forming an article for distributing stress are disclosed. The article includes a flange for securing an upper tower section and a lower tower section of a wind turbine and includes a first arm extending in a first direction, a second arm extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, a relief region disposed between the first arm and the second arm, the relief region maintaining or improving the distribution of stress on wind turbine components selected from the group consisting of the first arm of the flange, the second arm of the flange, a fastener of the flange, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring a global supplier base. In one embodiment, a computer-based system allows a company that contracts with one or more suppliers to obtain performance metrics for those suppliers on a regular basis, such as monthly. These performance metrics can include utilization of manpower, timeliness of deliveries, quality of work, and other similar data. In one embodiment, the method is implemented on general-purpose computers by one or more suppliers who access user interface display pages from a server computer and input performance-related data. This data is then transmitted back to the server computer where it is automatically stored in one or more databases. The contracting company can then access the server computer to obtain the supplier performance data in one or more useful formats.