Wind Tunnel and Flight Calculations

CFD can be used very effectively to provide pre-test predictions, post-test analyses, data fill-in, and scaling laws for full scale prototypes before, during, and after wind tunnel test programs. We use CFD in an automated batch mode to provide massive amounts of aerodynamic data that would otherwise not be available for flight simulations. The calculations can be performed for wind tunnel geometries, as shown here in this wing-body configuration, or for full scale flight vehicles to predict geometric scaling and altitude effects on the aerodynamic behavior. With our computational hardware and automated CFD techniques, it is possible to develop a reasonable aerodynamic model for realistic configurations in as little as 1-3 months.

Read More About Aerodynamics

NASA's Aerodynamics Index lists all of the topics from the extensive Beginners Guide to Aerodynamics. Guided Tours of the Beginners Guide are also available. Another interesting overview is given on Wikipedia.