Chapter 3: Model Analysis in OpenVSP – Page 3

Projected Area Direction

Introduction

The Projected Area “direction” is the direction that the target projects with or without a boundary. For example, a geometry’s frontal, side, and top area may be computed using the X, Y, and Z directions, respectively. Users may also choose a geometry to define the direction which points in the component normal. This is particularly effective with rotors. The direction may also be manually adjusted to any vector in XYZ space.

Projected Area Boundaries

Introduction

A Projected Area “boundary” enables the user to choose which set of components (or individual geometries) that the target geometry is projected onto. For example, the projected area of a helicopter fuselage beneath a rotor may be performed by choosing the rotor as the target and the fuselage as the boundary.

Projected Area Targets

Introduction

Projected Area “targets” are essentially what set of components the analysis is being performed on. Users may choose an individual component or set of components from the Target dropdown menus.

Projected Area Introduction

Introduction

The Projected Area analysis produces an area and outlined “silhouette” of a model in preset or custom directions and can also produce the projected area of sets of components onto others. Users may choose any individual or set of components as the target, or the analyzed geometry, while defining the optional boundary and direction. For example, Projected Area may be used to compute the area of a helicopter fuselage beneath a rotor disk for download estimates.

Mass Properties Result File Overview

Introduction

The Mass Properties analysis results file provides the total mass, moments of inertia, and center of mass from the computation as well as a table of individual contributions by component. For each item, the component mass, center of mass, and moments of inertia about itself are reported. For example, a Blank point mass will have a set mass at its defined location but will have zero moments of inertia while still contributing to the total moments due to the distance from the model center of mass.