AVIATION DESIGN SOFTWARE

AND AEROSPACE

At the time, as a young pilot with a passion for anything that flies, I was doing mechanical work on the weekends.

My objective was to restore machines for which there was no longer either a manufacturer or a supplier of spare parts.

Thus, like the character (Baracouda from the A-Team, All Risks Agency in the French version), my comrades nicknamed me Mister T.

Welding, cutting, machining (lathe, milling machine, drill, file, etc.), all the means were good to repair and remanufacture the parts in order to put real flying museum pieces back in flight.

A little later, while still a student, I had the pleasure of embarking on the amateur construction of three machines with my group of friends.

At that time, the calculations were made by hand, the drawings made on a board with layers, pencils and "Rotring".

There was no CAD, CAD/CAM, calculation software, simulation, etc...

Once I finished my studies, unfortunately, the job of journalist left me little time, just enough to fly, mainly to move around and do a bit of instruction as a volunteer during my downtime.

Yes, things have changed a lot these days!

That's why I'm going to tell you about a great software for anyone, professional or hobbyist, with design needs in the field of aviation.

OpenVSP, the free aircraft modeling software developed by NASA, has become an essential reference in the field of aeronautics.

Its ambitious goal: to enable the creation of aircraft prototypes for simulation testing and in-depth engineering analysis.

Recognized by renowned institutions, OpenVSP is used in the prestigious training provided by the National School of Civil Aviation in France and the University of Cadiz in Spain.

In addition, the University of Munich in Germany has chosen this avant-garde software for its innovative aircraft development project, ADEBO (Aircraft Design Box).

From its launch, OpenVSP reveals a captivating interface with a working window and a "Geometry Browser".

The working window is the space where the 3D model of the aircraft comes to life, while the "Geometry Browser" lists the essential components such as the wings and the fuselage.

Like a conductor, the user of this exceptional software can select, add, modify and delete each component with ease, thanks to an ergonomic interface that is reminiscent of Computer Aided Design software ( CAD).

By clicking on a component in the "Geometry Browser" page, a window dedicated to the "component geometry" opens, allowing you to modify it with precision.

OpenVSP's API is a particularly powerful feature, giving users the ability to harness its full power through languages ​​such as Matlab, Python or AngelScript. This flexibility of integration is a major asset for aeronautical professionals.

The geometric modeling offered by OpenVSP is both rich and varied.

Aircraft designers have a multitude of basic shapes at their disposal, such as the wing, pod, fuselage and propeller.

But that's not all !

OpenVSP also offers more complex and sophisticated components, such as the body of revolution, the conduit or even the conformal geometry, thus opening up an infinite range of possibilities.

OpenVSP is not limited to modeling, it also offers a full range of aeronautical and structural analysis tools.

These tools include CompGeom, which generates meshes and handles model intersections, Mass Properties Analysis, which calculates crucial variables such as center of gravity and moment of inertia, and Projected Area Analysis, which allows to quantify the area of ​​the project.

For specialists in fluid mechanics, OpenVSP offers the CFD Mesh, capable of generating meshes suitable for aerodynamic analysis, while the FEA Mesh facilitates the analysis by finite element method by generating suitable meshes.

Designers will also appreciate the DegenGeom tool, which simplifies geometric representation by generating simplified structures, such as beams.

Aerodynamic experts will not be left out with OpenVSP's VSPAERO tool, allowing fine analysis of aerodynamic characteristics and flight dynamics using advanced methods based on vortexes or panels.

As for performance enthusiasts, the Wave Drag Analysis tool assesses the drag induced by certain shapes, while the Parasite Drag Analysis estimates parasitic drag by evaluating parameters such as the coefficient of friction or the wetted surface.

The precision of the models is not to be outdone with the Surface fitting tool, which makes it possible to create a parameterized surface from a cloud of points, thus offering a perfect match to specific needs.

OpenVSP also facilitates exchanges with other software, thanks to its extensive compatibility with formats such as STL, CART3D (.tri) and PLOT3D.

Point clouds can be imported and translated into parametric surfaces, while models can be exported in commonly used formats, such as STL, CART3D (.tri), PLOT3D, STEP, IGES, OBJ, SVG, DXF and X3D.

Thus, the shapes modeled in OpenVSP can be used to generate meshes in software for analysis of fluid mechanics or analysis by finite element method.

In short, OpenVSP is positioned as a reference software in the field of aviation and aerospace.

Its open source nature and its free nature make it an essential tool for enthusiasts and professionals in the aeronautical industry.

I can't hide that OpenVSP is ubiquitous in my last construction project (Homebuild, fourth construction of a 4-seater Vtol plane) which occupies my spare time.