Fanwing computer simulation software

[epwaotl]

A few years ago I conducted some experiments on fanwing designs. If you do not know what a fanwing is consult the following link http://www.fanwing.com/. I have not touched my old project for quite some time but am thinking of picking it up again. I am thinking of working with computer simulations instead of my wind tunnel. I had thought of this when I originally started this project but could not find software that would work. Because of the integrated propulsion system in the wing most airfoil simulation software will not work. I was recently told that matlab would be able to handle the problem. Does anyone know if this is true? Also can anyone think of other programs that would let me model and simulate fanwing designs?

Thanks for the help.

[barretttomlinson]

Hi,

I apologise for the long delay in answering your post regarding fanwing simulation. I am not expert in this engineering area but have found some resources that merit some investigation. Try looking into this NASA site and possibly contact them if they do not have the perfect solution for you:

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/freesoftware_page.htm

This discussion thread may give you some leads:

http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/archiv ... -2201.html

http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=22546

You may want to look at Tornado software which runs in MATLAB:

http://www.redhammer.se/tornado/

http://www.redhammer.se/tornado/thesis.pdf


You may want to check out xfoil from MIT(though I am unsure whether it will be useful to you):

http://web.mit.edu/drela/Public/web/xfoil/

I have seen SolidWorks recommended as a 3D design package, and it is available in a 12 month license Student edition which you might qualify for:

http://www.academicsuperstore.com/produ ... ks/1390825

http://www.solidworks.com/sw/products/c ... ftware.htm


Unfortunately I do not have the knowledge to judge how useful any of these programs might be to you, but they appear to span the range of the commonly available free(or inexpensive) aerodynamic simulation software.

I wish you success in your endeavors.

Barrett L Tomlinson

[barretttomlinson]

Hi again,

A little more research turned up these two websites with extremely relevant information on your problem:
Here is the websjte with free simulation software for the fanwing design:

http://www.fanwing.com/sim.htm

Here is a good resource site with basic documentation on the fanwing development:

http://www.fanwing.com/desc.htm

These resources appear much more relevant to your question than my first answer.

Best regards,

Barrett L Tomlinson

[epwaotl]

Barrett L Tomlinson

First off thanks for the help.

Secondly

Hi again,

A little more research turned up these two websites with extremely relevant information on your problem:
Here is the websjte with free simulation software for the fanwing design:

<span><a class="smarterwiki-linkify" href="http://www.fanwing.com/sim.htm">http:// ... </a></span>

Here is a good resource site with basic documentation on the fanwing development:

<span><a class="smarterwiki-linkify" href="http://www.fanwing.com/desc.htm">http:/ ... </a></span>

These resources appear much more relevant to your question than my first answer.

Best regards,

Barrett L Tomlinson

These two links don't help me. I have already read through the fanwing site before coming here for help. These simulations are not the kind I need. It is based of X-plane which is a virtual flying program. The simulation merely replicates the plan's flight characteristics not the actual way it flies. As they said on their site, "The X-Plane software obviously cannot model the FanWing accurately - the technology is unprecedented and unique. To compensate, a model was created with a combination of vectored thrust engines and airfoils to correct the flight characteristics" In the X-plane simulation the fanwing does not actually have a fanwing propulsion system. Instead it uses others such as vectored thrust to mimic the flight characteristics of the real thing. I need software that can simulate the way the fanwing propulsion system actually works.

Once again thanks for the help.

[epwaotl]

Barrett L Tomlinson

I have looked through your suggestions. Most of the programs can only handle conventional wing shapes. The tornado program for Matlab looks promising though I would have to change it. It relies on the NACA 4 digit method of classifying airfoils which is not compatible with fanwings. The sold works program also looks promising, but I would have to design and build a virtual fanwing.

If you have any other suggestions that are more like either the tornado program or Solid Works I would appreciate information on them.

Thanks for your help

[epwaotl]

Does anyone have any experience in MATLAB?
Would it be possible to run a simulation of a fanwing using this software?
I have heard that MATLAB uses its own programming language. If anyone has used MATLAB is it hard to learn the language?

Thanks for the help.