OpenVSP

OpenVSP, also known as Open Vehicle Sketch Pad, is an open source parametric aircraft geometry tool originally developed by NASA. It can be used to create 3D models of aircraft and to support engineering analysis of those models. Predecessors to OpenVSP including VSP[1] and Rapid Aircraft Modeler (RAM) were developed by J.R. Gloudemans and others[2] for NASA beginning in the early 1990s.[3] OpenVSP v2.0 was released as open source under the NOSA license in January 2012. Development has been led by Rob McDonald since around 2012 and has been supported by NASA and AFRL among other contributions.

OpenVSP
Developer(s)NASA
Initial releaseJanuary 10, 2012 (2012-01-10)
Stable release
3.35.3 / August 2, 2023 (2023-08-02)
Repository
Operating systemWindows, macOS, Linux
Available inEnglish
TypeComputer-aided design
LicenseOpen Source
Websiteopenvsp.org/

OpenVSP allows the user to quickly generate computer models from ideas, which can then be analyzed. As such, it is especially powerful in generating and evaluating unconventional design concepts.[4]

Features

User interface

OpenVSP displays a graphical user interface upon launch. A workspace window and a "Geometry Browser" window open. The workspace is where the model is displayed while the Geometry Browser lists individual components in the workspace, such as fuselage and wings. These components can be selected, added or deleted, somewhat like a feature tree in CAD software such as Solidworks. When a component is selected in the Geometry Browser window, a component geometry window opens. This window is used to modify the component.

OpenVSP also provides API capabilities which may be accessed using Matlab, Python or AngelScript.[5]

Geometry modelling

OpenVSP offers a multitude of basic geometries, common to aircraft modelling, which users modify and assemble to create models. Wing, pod, fuselage, and propeller are a few available geometries. Advanced components like body of revolution, duct, conformal geometry and such are also available.

A few base geometry models provided by OpenVSP

Analysis tools

Besides the geometry modeller, OpenVSP contains multiple tools that help with aerodynamic or structural analysis of models. The tools available are:

  • CompGeom - mesh generation tool that can handle model intersection and trimming
An OpenVSP HL-20 model alongside its unstructured mesh generated using the CompGeom tool
  • Mass Properties Analysis - to compute properties like centre of gravity and moment of inertia
  • Projected Area Analysis - to compute project area
  • CFD Mesh - to generate meshes that may be used in Computational fluid dynamics analysis software
  • FEA Mesh - to generate meshes that may be used in FEA analysis software
  • DegenGeom - to generate various simplified representations of geometry models like point, beam and camber surface models
  • VSPAERO - for vortex lattice or panel method based aerodynamic and flight dynamic analysis
Results from a panel method simulation in VSPAERO on a generic transport aircraft
  • Wave Drag Analysis - for estimating wave drag of geometries
  • Parasite Drag Analysis - for estimating parasite drag of geometries based on parameters like wetted area and skin friction coefficient
  • Surface fitting - for fitting a parametric surface to a point cloud
  • Texture Manager - for applying image textures to geometry for aiding visualization

Compatibility with other software

OpenVSP permits import of multiple geometry formats like STL, CART3D (.tri) and PLOT3D. Point clouds may also be imported and used to fit a parametric surface.

Geometry created in OpenVSP may be exported as STL, CART3D (.tri), PLOT3D, STEP and IGES, OBJ, SVG, DXF and X3D file formats. These file formats allow geometries to be used for mesh generation and in CFD or FEA software.

OpenVSP Hangar

OpenVSP Hangar provides users a place to upload models and promotes sharing of geometry created in OpenVSP. Each model is allowed revisions with accompanying details on source quality.[6]

A NASA X-57 Maxwell OpenVSP model on VSP Hangar

OpenVSP Ground School

OpenVSP Ground School is a set of comprehensive tutorials under development by Brandon Litherland at NASA. Ground school tutorials provide details on OpenVSP features and techniques, along with tutorials for beginner and advanced users.[7]

References
  1. Hahn, Andrew (2010-01-04), "Vehicle Sketch Pad: A Parametric Geometry Modeler for Conceptual Aircraft Design", 48th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting Including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition, Aerospace Sciences Meetings, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, doi:10.2514/6.2010-657, hdl:2060/20100003046, retrieved 2022-01-13
  2. Gloudemans, James; Davis, Paul; Gelhausen, Paul (1996-01-15), "A rapid geometry modeler for conceptual aircraft", 34th Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, Aerospace Sciences Meetings, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, doi:10.2514/6.1996-52, retrieved 2022-01-13
  3. "Learn More About OpenVSP". openvsp.org. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  4. McDonald, Robert A.; Gloudemans, James R. (2021-12-29), "Open Vehicle Sketch Pad: An Open Source Parametric Geometry and Analysis Tool for Conceptual Aircraft Design", AIAA SCITECH 2022 Forum, AIAA SciTech Forum, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, doi:10.2514/6.2022-0004, retrieved 2022-01-13
  5. "OpenVSP API". openvsp.org. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
  6. "VSP Hangar". VSP Hangar. NASA. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  7. "OpenVSP Ground School". OpenVSP Ground School. NASA. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
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