Validation and Accuracy

Like all  mathematical models, the procedures combined in JavaFoil can only approximate real physics. Thus deviations between experiments and JavaFoil results can be expected and the results should be used with thought. It is always a good idea to perform some tests of your own before you start complex development work with a computer program like JavaFoil or the like.

Some comparisons between Experiments at the laminar wind tunnel of the Institute of Aero- and Gas-Dynamics of the University of Stuttgart are shown below.

NACA 4415

This classic airfoil has been analyzed with JavaFoil and compared against wind tunnel tests performed in the Laminar Wind Tunnel at Stuttgart, The data presented in NACA Report No. 824 and results produced by XFLR5, an implementation of the XFOIL algorithms. The airfoil coordinates were created with JavaFoil, using the standard number of 61 points.

The maximum lift coefficient is over-predicted by both numerical methods (JavaFoil, XFLR5). The lift gradient is (dCl/dalfa) is also overpredicted because no boundary layer displacement effects are modeled. While these are modeled in XFLR5, the deviation from the experimental values is also rather large. The drag coefficient lies close to the experimental values but is considerably higher than the XFLR5 prediction. At lower lift coefficients, the lower surface becomes fully turbulent and the drag is predicted too high.

 

NACA 23012

Here we see a similar result with the analysis quite close to the experimental data. The airfoil coordinates were created with JavaFoil, using the standard number of 61 points.

A comparison of NACA 23012 lift versus drag polars.

NACA 64(1)-012

The coordinates for this airfoil were imported from the Wiechers/Bender  coordinate database and the analysis was performed for two cases, using a smooth surface. The first analysis used the given 51 points, which were defined near the trailing edge at 90%, 95% and 100%. This created the first curve with higher drag coefficients. Then the coordinates were re-splined  to only 53 points using the Modify card of JavaFoil. This created a "cosine spaced" coordinate set with a finer resolution at the trailing edge. The analysis shows a closer agreement with the experiments, but maximum lift is under predicted.

A comparison of NACA 64(1)-012 lift versus drag polars.

This example shows, that you should use enough points (at least 50, better 80 to 120) and that the points must be distributed more dense in regions where the velocity distribution shows large gradients. This is usually the case close to the leading and trailing edges.

Last modification of this page: 21.05.18

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