VGL
aeromechanics written in .NET

Cross-platform open source software for aeromechanic studies

VGL is an open source project developing practical tools that assist aeronautical engineers and students in the comprehension of complex aeromechanic problems (cases in which elements of aerodynamics, elasticity and dynamics are present) using .NET as underlying platform. VGL can solve airflow problems over rigid and elastic aircraft models, finding in both cases either a steady airflow state or a free motion transit.  Problems that can be solve are for instance:

• Steady state flow and associated airloads, with or without wing deformation and control deflections.

• Free flight rigid body motion in response to a gust or a control deflection (dynamic stability).

• Wing oscillations.

The project originally consisted of two parts: a calculation engine and a graphical interface called Tucan, which considerably facilitated the interaction with the models and the results. However, the goal towards the future is to focus only on the model generation algorithms and calculation engine, relying in other open source systems (like Scilab) for the pre-processing and post post-processing of the data. The source code has therefore been rearranged and re-branded as VGL (it will be replacing the former OpenVOGEL branch).

Having .NET as underlying platform means that you can easily recompile and run VGL on any of the three most common operating systems: Linux, Windows and Mac OS.

In writing this project I strive to find a balance between code complexity, performance and easiness of use. A serious effort is done to optimize and increase the performance of the algorithms.  Perhaps the programs are still not at the top regarding calculation performance, but this is counterbalanced with tools that make modelling fast and the program easy to learn using.

To sum up, this project provides:

• Free software: the programs circulate freely and are open source. The goal is to facilitate access to engineering tools, and that is why the project is free of marketing. You are free to use the programs, judge them and modify them at your own will. You can contact me in case you need specialized assistance in either using or developing the software.

• Standard methods: the calculation methods and algorithms  implemented in the programs are the same thought to undergraduate  students of aerodynamics all over the world. Although the numerical implementation has some novelties (mainly tied to .NET) compared to traditional routines found in the classic literature, this project did not reinvent anything.

• Desktop or server host: there is no need of a supercomputer to run the program, it can be launched from a standard desktop PC and the simulation will run locally without requiring network connection. However, the program can also run calculations remotely in a powerful dedicated computer if needed.

• Three modules in different disciplines of aeromechanics:

1. Steady aerodynamics

2. Rigid body dynamics (unsteady flight simulation) 

3. Aeroelasticity

• Integrated model design tools. There are five different objects to model: 

  1. Lifting surfaces

  2. Extruded fuselages

  3. Propellers

  4. Nacelles

  5. Imported STL meshes. 

The models are parametric (the geometry is generated using a small amount of variables that determine the shape and dimensions). No external geometry generator is really needed (although some can be used). The self-generated meshes are best suitable for our own calculations.

• Unlimited simulation. There are no limitations in number of surfaces or simulation setup (more than the limits imposed by your own PC).

• Integrated post processing tools. No third party application is needed to load the raw results. However, we also output some Scilab scripts to plot special simulation cases.

Free and open source

This project is open source and all of the programs are available  for free under GPLv3 license. 

• Visit our Wikibooks pages for detailed documentation about the project

• Visit the GitHub repository

• Download the last version of Tucan for Windows or the Console for Linux/Windows

The VGL software (former OpenVOGEL), name and logos are copyright protected. The computer program is distributed under General Public Licence version 3.

Copyright (C) 2020 Guillermo A. Hazebrouck

Reference to this work

If you are using this project for your work or investigation, my only request is that you include a reference to my work. I suggest using the next citation:

VGL - Open source software for aeromechanics in .NET.
Authored by Ir. Guillermo A. Hazebrouck and free contributors.
Public access repository at https://github.com/OpenVOGEL

Other open source projects from the same author

Aeronautics is my passion and writing software is my profession. Did you know I am the author of another interesting open source project related to aeronautics? It is called G-NAV. Click here to learn more about it!