Introduction to Aerodynamic Simulation Software & Its Usage

Many research initiatives in aircraft design strive to develop better solutions faster while also lowering costs, from nanotechnologies and micro-composite materials to futuristic wing designs. Aerospace companies and engineers can assess various designs earlier in development by utilising aerodynamic simulation software.

What Is Aerodynamic Simulation Software?

When the plane travels at high speed, the aerodynamic force and moments acting on the aircraft frame are complex. Aerodynamic simulation is performed by creating a mathematical model to analyse the aerodynamic stability of the aircraft.

Aerodynamic simulation software like ANSYS and OpenFOAM is used to predict the behaviour of the fluid flow. They can solve complex turbulence problems by deploying different methodologies of CFD and aerodynamics.

Applications of CFD in Aerodynamics

Numerous theoretical investigations and experimental studies are needed to optimise a bluff body like the Ahmed body. Every pre-designed model was tested experimentally to find prerequisites before computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was developed. 

To predict the performance of aircraft by measuring the lift, drag, combustion, and other fluid forces, CFD methods are deployed. Every moving object that travels in the air will undergo a resistance force caused by air. By using advanced design methodologies, you can reduce the impact of this resistive force, thereby increasing the fuel efficiency of the aircraft or vehicle.

Numerical models like the Navier-Stokes (RANS) and large eddy simulation (LES) techniques are frequently used to analyse the aerodynamics of any structure. The benefits of CFD can be summed up in terms of price and accessibility.

How Modern 3D Aerodynamics Simulation Becomes Helpful?

• First, talking about the CONVERGE simulation of aircraft wings, here in this application, the effectiveness of an aeroplane during flight is determined by the size and placement of its wings. The aerodynamic effects of two aeroplane wing designs are simulated in research. This project serves as a framework for the CONVERGE Aerospace Workshop. 
• While performing wingtip vortices simulation produces aircraft wingtip design when lift generation varies span-wise. Due to the destabilisation and performance loss brought on by these vortices, the lift is reduced. The simulation looks at the velocity fields for wings with and without wingtip attachments in two parallel models. Also, this simulation shows that the model will perform worse without a wingtip attachment. 
• While crafting solutions for aircraft cabin ventilation, the impact of two different cabin designs on the airflow pattern is shown in this CFD analysis. An aeroplane cabin ventilation simulation is the first step. Six different inlet and output configurations are examined for the optimum.

To achieve these functions, you must create a free account on the Converge platform to quickly and easily set up your own web-based simulation. 

To learn how to effectively use Converge tool, enroll in Skill-Lync’s Aerodynamic Simulation course.

How Aerodynamic Simulations are Performed in Cars?

As we all know, the study of the interactions between fluids and moving solid objects is known as aerodynamics. This field of study has a significant role in the automotive industry. The vehicle performance is enhanced with a drop in drag coefficient.

An aerodynamic simulation is mostly performed in vehicles to obtain crucial information from solutions, such as the drag and lift on particular boundaries.

• Car aerodynamics simulation helps recognise the wake and how it affects the aerodynamic characteristics.
• It also helps obtain data from Converge CFD, such as drag and lift force.

Due to the advanced computing capabilities, studying an airfoil with CFD is relatively straightforward. Also, the body's shape engulfed in the air directly affects transportation speed.

Aerodynamic simulations for supercars are typically done using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software. This software uses mathematical models and algorithms to simulate how air flows around a vehicle, taking into account factors such as the car's shape, the air's speed, and the air's density. The simulation generates a large amount of data, which is then analyzed by engineers to understand how the airflow interacts with the car's surface and to identify areas where the car's aerodynamics can be improved. This process is iterative, with engineers making changes to the car's design and re-running the simulation until they achieve the desired level of aerodynamic performance.

What to Expect from the CONVERGE CFD Aerodynamics Module?

This course’s module aims to give students practical experience with the most important aerodynamic simulations used in the industry.

You will learn how the Navier-Stokes equations are solved using the Converge. The course will take you through grid generation, case construction, boundary, and initial conditions, and simplified forms of equations.

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Ultimately, by the end of this course, you will understand how to approach solutions to real-world problems using transport equations and how to solve CFD problems in a 3D environment. The transport equation in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) describes how a certain property (density, temperature, or velocity) changes over time and space within a fluid flow. The equation is typically written as a partial differential equation (PDE) and can be solved using numerical methods such as finite difference or finite volume methods. The transport equation forms the basis of many CFD simulations. It is used to predict fluid flow behavior in various applications, including aerospace, mechanical engineering, and environmental science.

To gain in-depth knowledge of aerodynamics, enroll in Skill-Lync’s PG Program in External Aerodynamics.