Multiple Element Airfoil Design

andreape · October 30, 2019, 09:09

Hi guys,

I am looking for an alternative to CFD to design a multiple-element airfoil. I was thinking about a coupled inviscid Panel Method with a Boundary Layer solver.

I already know several codes like Javafoil, but I would like to know if there are other open-source codes.

Thanks in advance and best,

Andrea

fluid23 · October 30, 2019, 16:03

I am not sure about open source. The code is very doable. I wrote one for single airfoils in grad school, I can't imagine that extending it to multiple elements is very difficult.

Not sure what your goals are, but you could probably link any given software with a user-code. I know there are plenty of examples of people integrating Xfoil into Matlab, for instance. You might be able to take something like XFLR5 and write a Matlab/Python script to get the functionality that you need. Otherwise, you are probably stuck coding it yourself. It's a fun academic exercise, but totally pointless if you are trying to do real engineering. No sense wasting time creating tools that are already available and can be readily adapted.

andreape · November 4, 2019, 17:22

Ok thank you. And did you know any other free software for 2D multiple element airfoils? I already know Javafoil but in my opinion it is not so reliable.

fluid23 · November 7, 2019, 10:01

XFLR5 and XFOIL immediately come to mind as far as free codes go.

andreape · November 11, 2019, 06:03

Ok but they did not manage multiple-element airfoil such this:

Javafoil can handle these airfoils but it's not very reliable. Anyone knows other free software?

PositronCascade · November 18, 2019, 14:44

Dear andrea,

I am also looking for multi-element 2D solver. Did you find or obtain any code so far?

Quote:

Originally Posted by andreape

Ok but they did not manage multiple-element airfoil such this:

Javafoil can handle these airfoils but it's not very reliable. Anyone knows other free software?

Chris2337 · November 28, 2019, 12:07

MSES is the multi-element XFOIL, although you would have to ask if getting a free copy is possible

October 30, 2019, 09:09	Multiple Element Airfoil Design	#1
andreape New Member A Pedrioli Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 7	Hi guys, I am looking for an alternative to CFD to design a multiple-element airfoil. I was thinking about a coupled inviscid Panel Method with a Boundary Layer solver. I already know several codes like Javafoil, but I would like to know if there are other open-source codes. Thanks in advance and best, Andrea

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Order of element vs Degrees of freedom of the element	granzer	Main CFD Forum	5	July 13, 2019 04:40
Identifying Markers in a CGNS Mesh	tjim	SU2	3	October 12, 2018 01:21
[ICEM] 2D Multi Element Airfoil	jasonbot	ANSYS Meshing & Geometry	5	October 23, 2013 16:19
Problem with restart solution in shape_optimization.py	robyTKD	SU2 Shape Design	21	May 29, 2013 09:26
Multi Element Airfoil	J.Dumas	Main CFD Forum	2	May 13, 2000 07:24

October 30, 2019, 16:03		#2
fluid23 Senior Member Matt Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 947 Rep Power: 17	I am not sure about open source. The code is very doable. I wrote one for single airfoils in grad school, I can't imagine that extending it to multiple elements is very difficult. Not sure what your goals are, but you could probably link any given software with a user-code. I know there are plenty of examples of people integrating Xfoil into Matlab, for instance. You might be able to take something like XFLR5 and write a Matlab/Python script to get the functionality that you need. Otherwise, you are probably stuck coding it yourself. It's a fun academic exercise, but totally pointless if you are trying to do real engineering. No sense wasting time creating tools that are already available and can be readily adapted.

November 4, 2019, 17:22		#3
andreape New Member A Pedrioli Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 7	Ok thank you. And did you know any other free software for 2D multiple element airfoils? I already know Javafoil but in my opinion it is not so reliable.

November 7, 2019, 10:01		#4
fluid23 Senior Member Matt Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 947 Rep Power: 17	XFLR5 and XFOIL immediately come to mind as far as free codes go.

November 11, 2019, 06:03		#5
andreape New Member A Pedrioli Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 9 Rep Power: 7	Ok but they did not manage multiple-element airfoil such this: Javafoil can handle these airfoils but it's not very reliable. Anyone knows other free software?

November 28, 2019, 12:07		#7
Chris2337 Member Chris Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 36 Rep Power: 7	MSES is the multi-element XFOIL, although you would have to ask if getting a free copy is possible