Airfoil Shapes Database: An Essential Resource for Aviation Enthusiasts and Modelers

For anyone interested in aviation or aerodynamics, understanding airfoils plays a crucial role. Airfoils refer to the curved surfaces that produce lift by deflecting airflow around them when moving through it. Designing efficient airfols is complex due to the interplay between various factors such as shape, angle of attack, and Reynolds number.

In this article, we will explore some key resources for managing and working with different types of airfoil shapes:

1. UIUC Airfoil Data Site

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) hosts a comprehensive database that provides access to over 1000 two-dimensional airfoils in both ASCII and GMLS formats. This resource is maintained by Dr. Mark Drela, Associate Professor of Aeronautal and Astronautical Engineering.

2. Open-source Airfoil software

There are several open-source options available for managing and editing airfoil shapes:

- XAir: An open-source C++ program developed at the University of Michigan's Aerospace Department.

- Cambered: A Python library that provides functions to read, manipulate, and write 3D surface grids in various formats.

3. Online Airfoil Design Tools

Several online tools are available for designing custom airfoils:

- Xfoil: An interactive tool provided by NASA Glenn Research Center.

- CFD-lab/CFD++ : A suite of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software that includes a built-in 2D airfoil design module.

4. Free Pack Airfolets

This collection contains several hundred high-quality, royalty-free airfoils created and shared by various designers worldwide. These models are free to use for personal or educational purposes but may require permission from the original designer before commercialization.

5. Other Resources

- NASA's 6th-Order Panel Method (FOAM) : An open-source code developed at Langley Research Center.

- OpenFoam: A popular open-source C++ library of computational fluid dynamics applications that includes a range of airfoil and wing analysis tools.

These resources provide access to an extensive array of pre-designed airfoils, as well as the necessary software and knowledge base to create custom shapes for various applications. Whether you're interested in aerodynamics research or simply looking to improve your modeling skills, these online resources are essential stops on your journey into the world of airfoil design.

Airfoil shapes database