Chapter 1: OpenVSP Fundamentals

Getting Started

Concepts

Model Tree Hierarchy

Interface

Main Workspace
Working with Files
Adjusting the Workspace
Changing the Background
Standard Views
Changing the View Center of Reference
Setting Custom Views
Manually Adjusting the Current View
Clipboard, Selection, and View States
Model Surface Representations
Viewing Degenerate Geometries
Adjusting Parameters with Sliders and Inputs
Parameter Details and Drag-and-Drop
Cross-Section Viewer Window
Group Modification

General Component Information

Component Name and Color
Component Tessellation
Mass Properties: Fundamentals
Mass Properties: Priority and Intersection
Component Transformation
Attachment to Parent Origin
Attachment to Parent Surface
Component Symmetry Introduction
Symmetry and Attachment
Symmetry with Propellers
Scaling Components

Introduction to the Basic Modeling Process

Common Sources of Information
Adding a Background Image
Creating the Fuselage
Shaping the Fuselage
Creating the Wing
Creating the Vertical Tail
Wing Placement and Airfoils
Creating Nacelles
Vertical Tail Fairing and Wrap Up

Wings

Wing Introduction
Wing Planform
Wing Cap Treatment
Single-Section Wings
Multi-Section Wings
Sweep, Twist, and Dihedral
Relative vs. Absolute Twist and Dihedral
Rotating Airfoils to Match Dihedral
Wing Airfoil Selection

Fuselages

Fuselage Introduction
Adding or Removing Fuselage Cross-Sections
Positioning Fuselage Cross-Sections
Rotating Fuselage Cross-Sections
Changing the Fuselage Cross-Section Type
Fuselage Caps
Loop Fuselage Design Policy
Free Fuselage Design Policy

Stacks

Stack Introduction
Adding or Removing Stack Cross-Sections
Positioning Stack Cross-Sections
Rotating Stack Cross-Sections
Changing Stack Cross-Section Type
Stack Cap Treatment
Stack Design Policy
Repeating Stack Sections

Pods

Pod Design Parameters

Ellipsoids

Ellipsoid Design Parameters

Bodies of Revolution

Body of Revolution: Introduction
Body of Revolution: Surface Sections and Direction
Body of Revolution: Design Parameters
Body of Revolution: Design Mode
Body of Revolution: Cross-Sections

Propellers

Propeller Introduction
Propeller Design Mode
Propeller Design: Diameter, Blades, and Pitch
Propeller Design: Precone, Feather, and Construction Axis
Propeller Blade Control Curve Interface
Propeller Blade Chord Curve
Propeller Blade Twist Curve
Propeller Blade Rake and Skew Curves
Propeller Blade Sweep and Axial Curves
Propeller Blade Tangential Curve
Propeller Blade Thickness Curve
Propeller Blade Ideal Lift Curve
Propeller Blade Cross-Sections
Propeller Symmetry Application
Folding Propeller Hinge Placement
Folding Propeller Hinge Orientation
Propeller Caps and Tessellation

Blanks

Blank Introduction
Blanks as Point Masses
Blanks as References
Combining Blanks for Transformations

Hinges

Hinge Introduction
Hinge Connection Types
Controlling Hinge Motion
Hinge Axis Selection
Hinge Orientation with XForm Rotations
Hinge Orientation with Direction and Reference Vectors
Hinge Orientation with Offset
Hinge Orientation with Surface Locations
Hinge Orientation with Surface Directions
Combining Hinges for Complex Motion

Conformal Components

Conformal Component Introduction
Conformal Offset Distance
Trimming Conformals in U Direction
Trimming Conformals in V Direction
Trimming Conformals in Chord Direction

Human Mesh

Human Component Introduction
Human Anthropometric Settings
Human Pose Settings

Cross-Section Details

Point Cross-Section
Circle Cross-Section
Ellipse Cross-Section
Superellipse Cross-Section
Rounded Rectangle Cross-Section Basics
Rounded Rectangle Cross-Section Behaviors
General Fuselage Cross-Section
Fuselage File Cross-Section
NACA 4-Series Airfoil
NACA 6-Series Airfoil
NACA 5-Series Airfoil
NACA 4- and 5-Series Mod Airfoil
NACA 16-Series Airfoil
Biconvex Airfoil
Wedge Airfoil
CST Airfoil
Karman-Trefftz Airfoil
Airfoil File Cross-Section
Cross-Section Area and H/W Control

Skinning, Blending, and Section Modification

Skinning Introduction
Skinning Angles
Skinning Strength
Skinning with Slew
Skinning with Curvature
Skinning Symmetry
Skinning Continuity
Skinning for Flow-Through Components
Removing Skinning Control
Wing Blending Introduction
Blending Winglets
Modifying Airfoils: Shift, Rotate, and Scale
Modifying Airfoils: Leading and Trailing Edge Closure

Meshes and Point Clouds

Mesh Introduction and Control
Creating a Point Cloud
Mesh and Point Cloud Applications