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Aerodynamics simulator/wind tunnel

Started by Wrongfire Jun 26, 2011 at 10:29 PM 3 replies 2.7k views

Original Post

Jun 26, 2011 at 10:29 PM

Hey, I was wondering if anyone knew of a program that worked like a wind tunnel, one that would calculate lift and drag on 3d models that you import into its engine.
I don't know of any personally, a quick Google search was useless, didn't come up with any software..

Not sure if any exist.. But it seems to me like it has too be out there somewhere. So let me know if you know of anything like it. I have no doubt itll be expensive if it's this hard too find.

TheUnbeliever

Jun 26, 2011 at 11:25 PM

Depending on exactly how strict your requirements are, X-Plane is a commercial consumer (i.e. targeting the same market as the now-defunct Microsoft Flight Simulator) flight simulator which does compute 'real' dynamics using blade element theory. I don't know how powerful the technique is, but Wikipedia claims it has been used for at least some semi-serious work. If you're just looking for more plausible numbers to plug into a game, it might be suitable.

Deadlybones

Jun 26, 2011 at 11:36 PM

Try googling "[font=verdana, arial, sans-serif][size=2]Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) programs". I don't think you will be able to find anything at a professional level but good luck.[/font]

Wrongfire

Jun 26, 2011 at 11:39 PM

Thanks for the link, seems like X-plane is my best bet. My goal is to see how air vents in a frame effect the aerodynamics. When air vents are useful or unnecessary, and of course to see if my 3d models could fly if they really existed.

Wrongfire

Jun 29, 2011 at 12:03 AM

Just thought id post my results.
X plane doesn't do fluid dynamics, so the closest I could get was using 3ds and maya.

Id like other peoples opinions, but I think, according to those 2 wind tunnels, the ship is creating mostly drag and downforce, and not enough lift.

Not a serious project, just experimenting.

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