7 replies to this topic

[TopDollar]

The past few days, I have been working on a MATLAB code which can import airfoil data and generate a 3d wing geometry based on some inputted length parameters (such as wing span, root and wing tip chord length, and sweep angle).  The program can also save the geometry to a .dxf so it can be opened in any 3d modeling software or CAD program.  

Here is just a little test wing I produced using a NACA 2412 airfoil (Cessna 172) and I've added some sweep angle.

First a shot of the airfoil itself



And here is the final wing geometry



I've also tested the accuracy of this program by recreating a real wing and despite having a limited number of input parameters, It is able to produce a wing that is extremely close to the original.  The biggest problem being sweep angle (right now my program calculates both leading and trailing edge sweep angle from the quarter chord line instead of doing it individually)

[Chief_Bean]

Pretty cool. I need to learn how to use MATLAB...I can't even get it to plot functions

[pieterjan456]

Cool, you should import it into Catia and see the airflow over it:p

[Tako]

Chief_Bean, on Jan 26 2011, 02:18 PM, said:

Pretty cool. I need to learn how to use MATLAB...I can't even get it to plot functions

Same...

Nice work!

[Chief_Bean]

Tako, on Jan 27 2011, 04:25 PM, said:

Same...

Nice work!

Mmmm, not good considering I'm doing a maths degree and have weekly classes and lectures on how to use it

[TopDollar]

Thanks guys.  I actually tested the accuracy of my program by comparing a generated wing based on real world values and original drawing of the real wing.  It's actually seriously close to being spot on.  I could get it almost perfect if I added some more geometry parameters.

pieterjan456, on Jan 27 2011, 08:40 AM, said:

Cool, you should import it into Catia and see the airflow over it:p

Well you pretty much hit the nail on the head with that one hehe.  The aero group at Boeing actually uses programming very similar to this to create 3d geometries for testing.  Obviously their code is a bit more complex, but the underlying function is the same.

If your interested in their program, check out the link
http://www.calmarres...ps_overview.htm

Chief_Bean, on Jan 27 2011, 03:11 PM, said:

Mmmm, not good considering I'm doing a maths degree and have weekly classes and lectures on how to use it

I'm actually a teaching assistant for the MATLAB class at our university, so if you have any questions feel free to shoot me a pm.

[Tako]

Chief_Bean, on Jan 27 2011, 03:11 PM, said:

Mmmm, not good considering I'm doing a maths degree and have weekly classes and lectures on how to use it

That may be problematic at some point. I took Java last semester, but they moved the entire school over to Matlab just recently.

[FightandFlight]

This is pretty cool. Would you be able to share your code?