NACA Aerofoil Lattice-Boltzmann Simulation

Move the mouse over the canvas to inspect local values.

Simulation size

Large mode gives the aerofoil wake more space, but it may lag on classroom laptops. Switch back to Small if the controls feel sluggish.

NACA 4-digit aerofoil

Example: 2412 = 2% camber, 40% camber position, 12% thickness.

Chord length 58 cells Angle of attack 5° Vertical position 0

Viscosity 0.02 Flow speed 0.100 Plot type Contrast 20 Tracer particles Trace lines Show lift/drag arrows

Estimated force on aerofoil

Lift0.000

Drag0.000

L/D—

Qualitative only: values are based on momentum exchange at barrier cells, so use them to compare settings rather than as real aerodynamic coefficients.

How to use it

NACA code uses the standard 4-digit format. The first digit is maximum camber as a percentage of chord, the second digit is the camber position in tenths of chord, and the final two digits are maximum thickness as a percentage of chord. Change the code, chord, angle, or vertical position, then use Update aerofoil.

Teaching focus

Useful comparisons include symmetrical aerofoils such as 0012 against cambered aerofoils such as 2412 or 4415. Students can observe changes in separation, wake structure, vortex shedding, and the effect of angle of attack. Trace lines make the flow path easier to see.

Notes

This is still a simplified lattice-Boltzmann teaching model, not a validated CFD solver. The lift and drag readouts are approximate momentum-exchange indicators, useful for qualitative comparison only. They should not be used as real aerodynamic coefficients. Very low viscosity and high speed can become unstable.

Credit and licence

This browser version is adapted from the Java source by Daniel V. Schroeder, Weber State University. The original notice is preserved below.

Copyright 2011-2013, Daniel V. Schroeder (Weber State University)

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated data and documentation (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.

Except as contained in this notice, the name of the author shall not be used in advertising or otherwise to promote the sale, use or other dealings in this Software without prior written authorization.

Credits from the original source:
The "wind tunnel" entry/exit conditions are inspired by Graham Pullan's code. Additional inspiration from Thomas Pohl's applet. Other portions of code are based on Wagner and Gonsalves; code adapted from Succi.