Aerodynamics Made Easy - Airplane CFD Analysis Explained | Step-by-Step Guide

Sample project: https://app.airshaper.com/simulations/cessna-public-3d-model-with-3-bladed-prop More information: https://www.airshaper.com or info@airshaper.com In this video is a step by step explanation of how to use CFD simulations to analyze the aerodynamics of an airplane. We used a public 3D model of a Cessna with some modifications (a custom propeller). ---Setup--- The AirShaper platform was used to set up the simulation. The airplane is positioned at zero angle of attack and a rotational speed has been added to the propellers. ---Results--- - Pressure clouds (iso-surface for the total pressure coefficient of 0): These illustrate where energy losses are high. This highlights the drag caused by the landing gear, the support beams, gaps and hinges around the door, ... and of course the propeller itself. - Pressure map: this one illustrates the pressure perpendicular to the surface. It clearly shows the suction & pressure side of the blades, the stagnation pressure on the wind screen, the performance of the main wing, ... - Friction map: this one shows the magnitude of the friction force of the air flowing parallel to the surface. When low, this can indicate either stagnation of the flow (at the front wind screen, ...) or separation of the flow (behind the antennas, ...). The surface streamlines indicate how the air moves across the surface. - 3D streamlines: these show how the air flows around the airframe, the support beams, through the propeller area, etc. - Noise: this is an estimation of the sources of wind noise. As this is a steady stage RANS simulation, it is just an approximation based on the turbulent kinetic energy. - Elements: the flow lines through the propellers are visualized. Also, the torque, power and thrust on the propellers can be analyzed by integrating the pressure & friction forces across their surface. - Forces: the forces on each individual element are calculated.